MASTERCLASSES
Clive Barlow is one of only a few hundred Masters of Wine in the world , and we are lucky enough to have him right here in Kent . He is hosting five masterclasses spotlighting the wines from our producers . If you don ’ t already have a ticket , talk to the front desk and you may be in luck . The masterclasses are taking place in the new building to the right of the main one . Here is the programme :
SESSION 1 : 11:45 - 12:30 Blanc de Blancs The sparkling wines of Kent are winning global awards on a regular basis , and the Blanc de Blancs , made entirely of chardonnay , are possibly the most exciting as they are exemplars of expressing the soil , vintage and winemaking in a near-magical way . The recent discovery of the ageing potential of these wines has further enhanced their reputation . This masterclass will explore and compare some of the finest Blanc de Blancs the producers have to offer .
SESSION 2 : 1:00 - 1:45 White Sparkling Wines The excellent white sparkling wines of Kent are , as with Champagne , made from blends of red and white grapes but use a broader range of varietals that thrive in our climate . In this masterclass , discover how these blends reflect the true diversity of the producers , through viticulture and winemaking , in The Wine Garden of England .
SESSION 3 : 2:15 - 3:00 Chardonnay - The Winemaker ’ s Friend Possibly more than any other grape variety , chardonnay can be transformed by the winemaking yet still retain the
varietal character . This masterclass looks at how the growing environment and winemaking can influence the flavours , structure and quality of wines from the Downs and Weald of Kent .
SESSION 4 : 3:30 - 4:15 Other White Varieties Although Kent has led the way in traditional method sparkling wine , we have been growing a number of other varieties for longer than the holy trinity of chardonnay , pinot noir and pinot meunier . The wines that are made from other varieties are a revelation , and we are excited to share them with you in this masterclass .
SESSION 5 : 4:45 - 5:30 Red Grapes Pinot noir , pinot meunier and lesser known red varietals such as dornfelder and regent grow well in our marginal , cool climate , and have created beautiful award-winning rosés and reds . You ’ ll discover how we are competing with Burgundy and Provence with our use of red grapes in this dry and sunny corner of the UK .
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