FOOD & DRINK
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WINE TIME
ear where I live in West Sussex is a vineyard, one of over 50 to grace the hills and valleys of Sussex. Our vineyard, or ‘binyard’ as it is known in our house ever since my little daughter christened it so, is a beautiful place to visit and is often part of our walking routes. In the past as we wandered by the regimented rows of leafy green vines, we have seen deer resting in the avenues – quiet and secluded – and often pheasants scuttle through the vines, ducking from row to row. Our binyard is an all stop shop for us – we have visited it for tasting tours, frequently stopped for coffee and cake or a full meal in the restaurant, or if we’re feeling decadent it’s the perfect place to purchase a bottle of beautiful fizz. I know we are lucky to have such a great resource on our doorstep and it’s really heartening to support a local and truly Sussex business. As I’m sure we are all aware by now, English Sparkling Wine is fantastic, and to my taste buds at least, some of the best sparkling wine in the world. It’s winning
In celebration of the vineyards of Sussex and the fabulous Sparkling Wines produced here, Sara Whatley dives into the world of wine
awards and since the trend for English Sparkling Wine started in the 2000s it has improved beyond belief. So what it is that makes our sparkling wine so great? “There are two factors,” said Martin Lea from
Wine tourism in the UK is a growing part of the industry, and Sussex is the perfect place to enjoy a wine tour
Mayfield, a noted wine expert with a WSET Level 4 Diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. “The soil composition is similar to the Champagne region – the chalk base runs under the Channel and comes up in Southern England. And the warmer summers we are having now ripen the grapes better. Plus, wine estates are investing more into land analysis to better understand where to plant different grape varieties. It’s what the French call ‘terroir’, meaning ‘a sense of place,’ which is something English wine makers are still learning about.” As Martin talked about the hotter summers I looked out the window at the August drizzle and asked what happens when the sun forgets to shine. “Well, there will always be good vintages and not so good,” he laughed. Apparently
September 2021 | SUSSEX LIVING 121
