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  The Kent-based winery has made a very small batch of wine using the amphora, just 685 bottles, and using the Ortega variety, which is at the heart of its still wines.John Rowe, winemaker at the estate, commissioned the amphora from Artenova near Florence, a potter that has also made amphorae for numerous high profile wineries such as Champagne Jacques Selosse.As well as wanting to experiment with the fashionable winemaking vessel, Rowe explained that he was also inspired the strong use of amphora among Italian winemakers, which was all the more important to him because he grew up in Montalcino where his mother owned a vineyard. “After seeing and tasting amphorae-fermented wines in Italy, I wanted to see how making...

“Westwell Special Cuvée winning the IWC English Classic Blend Trophy and English Sparkling Trophy is a special moment for us”, says winemaker John Rowe. “It is great recognition of our hard work creating the vineyard from scratch, that in such a short space of time we have achieved this! It is also another stamp of approval for the North Downs as one of the new exciting areas in English wine, with well known names investing in this strip of Downland either side of us.”Westwell Wines was first planted in 2008 after a three year hunt for the perfect spot. It produces a range of still and sparkling wines under the brands of Westwell and Pelegrim. The philosophy of the estate...