English wine, and a rosé from Sussex

This is the first post here. We're starting in England. Most people think football and fish and chips before wine when England comes up, but that's changing. The first thing we want to put forward is a rosé from Sussex we've grown fond of.

Why English wine now

Wine is the fastest-growing part of British farming. Most of it is sparkling, grown on chalk the same age as Champagne's, just a few miles further north. The climate has warmed, and southern England is now warm enough for the grapes to ripen.

In Norway it has happened fast. A few years ago there was barely an English sparkling wine at Vinmonopolet. Now there are over fifty, and England was among the countries that grew the most last year.

And the quality has kept up. In June, a still wine from Sussex took Platinum at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the first time an English still wine has. It came from Tidebrook, which we're proud to import to Norway.

Mousehall / Tidebrook

Tidebrook is run by Gary and Kathy Jordan, who are also behind Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. They took over a run-down estate between Mayfield and Wadhurst in East Sussex and rebuilt it. The Tidebrook stream runs through the land and gave the wines their name.

The soil is chalk, and you can taste it: firm acidity and a touch of salt. They're in no hurry in the cellar. The Chardonnay that won Platinum spends twelve months in oak barrels with bâtonnage, the lees stirred up to build texture. The Pinot Noir spends ten months in French Burgundy barrels.

See the full Tidebrook range at Vinmonopolet

Six Petals Rosé

Six Petals is a still rosé from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, two of the three grapes that usually go into Champagne. Here they're bottled without the bubbles, which is unusual for a rosé.

Two of the three Champagne grapes, but without the bubbles.

Twelve months on the lees give it texture and a little weight under the wild strawberries, raspberry and rhubarb. At eleven percent, it's light enough for a warm evening. A Michelin-starred restaurant here in Norway has it on the list, and it's just as good with a plate of shellfish on the terrace on a light evening.

Order Six Petals Rosé at Vinmonopolet

That's all for this time. If you're wondering about anything, just send us an email.