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We’re very excited to be releasing our first Pink Pet Nat this year - made with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay macerated on skins for a long weekend. This is a an untamed and fruity affair with a palate of ripe red apple, raspberries and sherbet. It’s an easy drinker which is just as at home with oysters or chips as it is on its own. We’ve been enjoying it as an aperitif or with anything salty, potato-y and hearty. Winemaker Adrian explains “The Pet Nats are real favourites at Westwell. The first to be released each year, they’re...

In 25 years of growing grapes in this country, this year has been the most challenging. There were times when we doubted whether we would actually have any ripe fruit - and in fact, if we hadn’t had four weeks of sunshine in September, we would have been harvesting grapes with a potential alcohol of about 6 – 7%, so thank you September! To understand the reasons for the grape yields achieved in 2021, we have to look back at the very difficult growing conditions during the year. Unseasonably cold weather during April and May resulted in a delayed start...

The speed of ripening is slow and languorous affair in England and in fact, it’s this long ripening that gives the fruit a longer time than in warmer climes to develop deep, complex and interesting flavours - one of the reasons that our sparkling wines are world class. Though slow, our ripening times are varied, but as a rule of thumb, from veraison (when fruit gets its colour) to harvest takes about four weeks. Ortega is the earliest ripening fruit generally followed by Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. We finish with Chardonnay around three weeks later. The spaced out ripening...

This month’s blog focuses on the frantic task of harvest prep. We chatted to winery and cellar door supernova Clare Butcher who filled us in on what we’re up to.