Bolney vineyard wins selection of awards

This year Bolney Wine Estate achieved silver in the International Wine and Spirit Competition for Bolney Rose whilst Blanc de Blanc, Cuvee rose, Bacchus, Lychgate red and Pinot Gris achieved silver in the English and Welsh wine of the year 2014 and Blanc de Blanc 09 achieved silver in the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships.

Head winemaker Sam Linter said: “We are immensely proud of our recent achievements, particularly our silver in the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships as this competition has been dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the Champagne and sparkling wine world”

The sandstone soils and south-facing slopes at Bolney Wine Estate provide the perfect conditions for vine-growing.

Like many English vineyards, they started out making white wines, and still produce whites from familiar grapes including Bacchus, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, and more exotic names such as Müller-Thurgau, Würzer and Schönburger.

Since starting out in the 1970s, the climate in southern England has become warmer, making it possible to grow red grapes successfully in Bolney.

So the estate now specialises in premium-quality red wines, notably Pinot Noir and Merlot, whilst they also make some rosé.