WESTWELL WINES
Chapel Down www . chapeldown . com
England ’ s leading wine producer is marking the coronation with the release of Chapel Down Coronation Edition 2016 ( RRP £ 65 ). Just 2,000 bottles have been released and all profits from the sale of the wine will be donated to its charity partner , the Royal British Legion .
The Chapel Down Coronation Edition is from the exceptional 2016 vintage and features special edition packaging , including a Union Jack flag design imprinted on the front label and the official coronation logo on the neck label . The wine is a classic blend of the finest parcels of chardonnay , pinot noir and pinot meunier from the Garden of England , Kent . This complex sparkling wine is aged on lees for five and a half years before its release . Described by its head winemaker , Josh Donaghay- Spire , as displaying “ complex aromas of ripe apple , fresh red berries and toasted brioche ”, this rich and complex sparkling wine is “ perfect for grand celebrations .”
Chapel Down will also be marking the coronation at their winery estate by hosting a ‘ Coronation Wine Experience ’ over the bank holiday weekend where guests will enjoy a guided tour of the vineyards and winery , followed by a tutored wine tasting of its award-winning sparkling wines . The producer expects to welcome over 1,000 visitors to the winery over the celebration weekend and £ 5 from every Coronation Wine Experience ( RRP £ 35 ) will also be donated to the Royal British Legion .
Westwell Wines www . westwellwines . com
Another family owned vineyard and also a member of the Wine Garden of England is Westwell . Located just beneath the Pilgrims Way on the North Downs , this estate occupies a route used for centuries by pilgrims travelling to Canterbury and boasts an ideal mix of climate , aspect and soil . There are six classified soil geologies at Westwell and the varieties have been planted with these in mind . Westwell grows five different varieties on their 40-acre estate : pinot meunier , pinot noir , chardonnay , a little regent and their signature grape , ortega . Westwell let insideKENT in on what is new for this season and what they will be toasting King Charles with :
“ Our Ortega 2022 is a great wine to sip while enjoying the coronation celebrations . Fermented in stainless steel at slightly lower temperatures yields precise floral aromas of honeysuckle , grapefruit and peach . It pairs perfectly with white meats and shellfish for those having a coronation lunch . Those looking for a red can delight in our Double Pinot 2022 and for rosé lovers , our Naturally Petulant Pink 2022 will suit .
“ Our tours are of course very popular this season . They are always led by the people who grow the grapes and make the wine , and our cellar door is a unique space which overlooks the winery so you can see us at work while tasting the fruits of our labour . In the spring and summer , tours involve a walk through the vineyard - taking in all of our 51,000 vines , as well as a visit to our wildflower meadow , which on a good day enjoys stunning views out to sea .”
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