The Garden ( of England ) Party
Get your guests talking … with a white wine made from the red Pinot Meunier grape .
Few counties in the UK can rival Kent for its quality produce . Fruit-filled orchards thrive on Kent ’ s well-drained soils , picturesque vineyards grow on gentle slopes , and high-welfare livestock supply locals with cheese and meat . With so much on offer , let me inspire you to throw a garden ( of England ) party to highlight some of Kent ’ s best delicacies . BY Kirsty Woodgate DipWSET and Academy of Cheese Associate
Greet your guests … with a luxury English sparkling wine .
All good parties start with a sparkle . Set the standards high with Gusbourne ’ s Traditional Method Rosé , which epitomises a warm English summer . With notes of simmered strawberry and apples fresh from the orchard , this beautiful wine will please all palates . Serve at 8-10˚C .
Simpsons Derringstone Pinot Meunier 2020 is made from red grapes , looks like a golden rosé , and yet is vinified as a white wine . It is a fruity , well-rounded wine that will delight , confuse and intrigue your guests all at once . To explain this phenomenon , the delicate gold-pink hue sneaks in from the skin of the red grapes while the juice is pressed . There is no intentional soaking with the skins like there would be for rosé or red wine . This wine is delicate in flavour , and should be matched with an equally gentle morsel . I recommend Kent ’ s NORTH Charcuterie thinly sliced Rosemary and Thyme Coppa , a cured and dried collar of pork .
Grace your guests … with their second sparkling wine .
Red wine is frequently paired with cheese , but white and sparkling also work fantastically . Chapel Down Three Graces is a highquality blend of three grapes , renowned for making great sparkling wine . Serve with a soft cheese , such as Cheesemakers of Canterbury ’ s Dargate Dumpy , which is a sheep ’ s milk cheese in the style of Camembert . The autolytic biscuit and apple notes pair beautifully with cheese , and the bubbles cleanse the palate .
56 | FOOD