Jonathan Piggott and Clive Barlow Master of Wine ( MW ) have opened an exciting new English wine shop in Canterbury , stocking an incredible selection of Kent wines . There ’ s so much more to it than this , however , so we did some digging to find out more .
What is Corkk ? Corkk are independent English wine specialists and we have recently opened a wine store / bar in Canterbury with 100 English wines , including a whole wall of Kent wines .
How did the idea come about ? In 2019 , living in rural Kent , it became apparent that there was a quiet revolution happening in our countryside , with new vineyards appearing with increasing regularity . However , it was also apparent not many people were aware of this and , more importantly , not aware of the quality of the wine that the vineyards were now producing . I approached Clive Barlow MW to see if he would like to join in an English wine venture . He didn ’ t hesitate and our partnership was born .
What were your challenges when starting out ? We started in 2019 and then Covid hit . We were always going to have an online shop , but it delayed any plans for a bricks and mortar presence . In November 2022 , we eventually opened our first store in Canterbury , just by the cathedral , where not only can you buy wines , but you can sit down and enjoy the wines along with locally sourced platters and learn all about them and the English wine scene through our tastings and workshops . It ’ s very much a case of bringing the vineyards to the high street .
What has surprised you about running this business ? It ’ s not so much of a surprise , but it is very rewarding . The passion and skill shown by all the vineyards , the amazing pace of development , and the real desire to discover and support local produce by our customers .
Why do customers love visiting you ? A deep love of wine and the knowledge our staff have , who know the stories of the vineyards and have a real appreciation of
SPOTLIGHT ON JONATHAN PIGGOTT
What is your motivation ? Regarding wine , the joy of discovering new vineyards and wines . I am currently working my way through the WSET levels
First memory of trying English wine : When we first started the Corkk journey , on a cold winter ’ s day , we popped down to Westwell and witnessed Adrian Pike create a delicious white mulled wine . We then had their Pelegrim and Ortega – wow !
Favourite Kentish vineyard to visit : At the shop , we always encourage customers to visit the amazing vineyards of Kent , all of which reflect the personality of the owners including Squerryes , Biddenden , Gusbourne , Chartham , Wayfarer and Yotes Court to name but a few . Last year I had a very happy memory of visiting Simpsons Wine Estate with my 92-year-old father . Not only was he amazed by the size of the operation and the quality of their wines , he also flew down their slide – my heart was in my mouth but thankfully he survived !
Favourite Kentish wine : Naturally it depends on the time of year , but just the other day I thoroughly enjoyed the Balfour Blanc de Noirs and I am a great fan of the Kit ’ s Coty Bacchus .
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