Description
Winemaker Notes
Chapel Down’s head winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire looks for the key features of freshness and vibrancy in wines — and English fruit really delivers on this, whether it be unique aromatic white wines, classic fizz, or a twist on a rich Chablis-esque Chardonnay. Balance is at the heart of every good wine and Josh’s aim, in the vineyard and in the winery, is to strive for perfect balance.Chapel Down’s sparkling wines are produced using the intricate Traditional Method, the same method as Champagne, where the bubbles occur naturally within the bottle. The winery produces a variety of styles from the youthful and vibrant Brut NV, to the more mature and complex Three Graces which is aged for four years before release. Honing what are becoming classic English wine styles is very important, but the team at Chapel Down also seeks to continually improve and develop styles.
The still wines are typified by aromatic delicacy and vibrancy of fruit from crisp, clean white wines to delicate rosés and elegant light red wines. England is becomingly increasingly known for its Bacchus white wines, which are considered England’s answer to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Chapel Down produces five different expressions of Bacchus ranging from crisp and vegetal to rich and tropical. The team is continually experimenting with new varieties and winemaking styles, such as the winery’s late harvest Nectar and England’s first Albariño.
