The grapes to produce Goring Blanc de Blancs “Family Release” Wiston Estate were pressed in whole bunches using a traditional, gentle Coquard basket press in order to preserve the delicate fruit flavours and aromas in the juice. Goring Blanc de Blancs “Family Release” Wiston Estate is vinified using the traditional method, the juice was fermented entirely in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts. Each component of the final assemblage wine went through malolactic fermentation and was allowed to rest on its lees for nine months imparting structure and complexity. After blending, cold stabilisation and bottling, the wine underwent a slow secondary fermentation. It was then kept on its side, under crown cap at cool temperatures of 9 to 11°C for almost three years on its fine lees, while it matured and took on flavour and structure through the process of autolysis. To preserve the natural poise and balance a dosage of 9g/l was added.
The fruit comes from two vineyards situated on the South Downs in West Sussex, which are above the 50th parallel and are influenced by a cool, coastal climate. The cool winters, moderate rainfall and temperate summers, combined with cooling sea breezes encourage the grapes to ripen slowly, retaining the natural acidity crucial for producing freshness in high quality sparkling wine. The vines are grown on a chalk escarpment, which is not dissimilar to the soils found in the vineyards of the Côtes de Blancs in Champagne. These chalky soils provide excellent drainage for the vines, as well as imparting great elegance and finesse to the wines. The vines are planted at a density of 4,000 vines per hectare and are trained according to the Vertical Shoot Positioning method, with Guyot pruning. The vines are tended by hand, with careful canopy management ensuring maximum sunlight exposure in this capricious climate. The Wiston vineyard is run according to a strict philosophy of sustainability. Manually harvested at optimum maturity.
Dermot Sugrue is not exactly a new name in the English wine industry but he is certainly a winemaker at the top of his game. Born in Ireland in 1974, he studied Viticulture and Oenology at Plumpton Agricultural College before completing two seasons working at Château l’Eglise-Clinet and Château Leoville-Barton. In 2003, he joined Nyetimber and was appointed winemaker in 2004. From Nyetimber he moved to the beautiful, family-run Wiston Estate in 2006, nestled in the heart of England’s rolling South Downs in West Sussex, to work with the Goring Family who has owned the estate since 1743.
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