Ch.15 – England & Wales Flashcards
1
Q
One card on England & Wales Sparkling
A
- started after WW2 using German varieties/crosses
- Lates 80s (Nyetimber 1986) champagne varieties to make sparkling. Good reviews
- 65% all plantings now Chardonnay, PNoir & Meunier
- Crisp high, acidity, med(-) alcohol, light to med body
- Crisp, green apple and lemon, some autolytic notes
- Distinctive characteristics: racy high acidity, just-ripe fruit
- Good to v good, some outstanding
- Prices premium to super-premium
- some rosé
2
Q
Why does the northerly latitude in England & Wales help grow grapes for traditional sparkling wine?
A
- All vineyards above 50 deg latitude = long growing season - pick into October
- Cool, so slow ripening and accummulation of sugar
- preserves acidity
- medium intense fruit characters
- Don’t want primary, floral fruits for trad method wines as flavour comes from lees ageing. Want high acid and low alcohol.
3
Q
Climate of England & Wales
A
- 85% vineyards in S England
- Cool maritime climate
- Average growing season temp risen from 13℃ mid 20thC to 14℃ this, cool, but less marginal
- ripens fruit more, raises quality
- More extreme weather events
- heavy rain
- earlier budding (so spring frosts)
4
Q
Why are spring frosts more of an issue now in England than 50 years ago?
A
- Warmer springs mean earlier budding
- Replaced hardy German varieties with Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
5
Q
What is the biggest threat to English vineyards?
A
- Prolonged rain - maritime climate rainfall spread throughout year, including growing season
-
Rain, cool at flowering & fruit set (June/July) low yield
- Eg 2012 wettest June 100 years. Some estates no fruit at all. Yields down generally
- Rain at harvest threatens quality
- Mitigation
- vineyard management - timely spraying against fungal dieseases, canopy management
- Managing financial risks!
6
Q
Site selection in England
A
- Northern latitude so south-facing max sunlight
- Max shelter from prevailing S-W winds. (Winds, gales, rain hinder flowering & fruit set, disperse heat)
- former apple orchards/ hop fields offer shelter
- Good drainage to avoid regular wet soils/ root zone (beware cost of installing drainage)
- Altitude below 125m
7
Q
Soils in England
A
- Clay in Kent & parts of Sussex: fertile, retains water
- richer wines, lower acidity, more pronounced fruit
- Sussex, Hampshire have chalk (like Champagne) good drainage, less fertile, but on higher slopes, less shelter
- more finesse, higher acidity, leaner body
8
Q
Planting & vine training in England
A
- New vineyards medium density (4000-5000 vines/ha)
- increase root competition, contain vigour of canopy
- Like most N Europe, Guyot system with VSP preferred
- Narrow rows, canes q close to ground retains heat
- Thin canopies
- allow air, light to reach buds & fruit
- reduce disease
- allow sprays to reach leaves
9
Q
Yields in England & Wales
A
- Variable, cool, damp climate means wide vintage variation and fluctuating yields
- Increased plantings Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
- both flower poorly in wet, cool springs
- Low average yields in 5 years to 2016 of 24hL/ha, best vineyards can achieve twice this. (By comparison max yield in Champagne is 66hL/ha)
- Low and variable yield keeps prices premium to super premium
10
Q
Wine making in England
A
- Majority sparkling (white/rosé) made from Chardonnay & Pinot Noir, some Meunier. Little German crossing/hybrids
- Almost all trad method, predominantly vintage, though recently some NV with use of reserves for consistency - most producers only just building stock. Very useful in marginal climate with variable yields!
- A few tank method starting, some Pet Nat
- Min EU 9mths lees ageing for sparkling with PDO, varied lengths used
- Some oak maturation to add richness, but most not
- Malo widely used to reduce v high acidity
- But producers with best sites who risk fuller ripeness can pick with ideal acidity
11
Q
England & Wales Wine Law
A
- PDO Sparkling allows 6 varieties (all rest PGI status)
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Noir Précoce (ripens 2 wks earlier than PN)
- Meunier
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Traditional Method
- Max yield PDO 80 hL/ha (but av 24 Hl/ha ;-)
- EU labelling terms for sweetness, mainly Brut
12
Q
Growth of plantings in England
A
- Early stage of development
- Small - 2750ha total - but tripled since 2000
- land much cheaper than Champagne - attracts new entrants incl major champagne houses
- Nyetimber & Wiston Estate significant
13
Q
Consumption of English Sparkling
A
- 96% in UK, 4% exported
- 1/3 cellar door
- Specialist shops, premium supermarkets, hospitality sector - incl by glass
- Compete with v good quality champagne (on price)
- 2018 2m bottles available for sale in UK - about same as decline in Champagne in UK
- Will rise to 4m in 5 years and 8m in 10
14
Q
Challenges facing English sparkling wine
A
- Is there demand for high priced sparkling (when growth is in cheaper, Prosecco?)
- Competition of champagne - big brands, lots of spending power
- Cost of building brands especially for world market
- financial challenge of fluctuating vintages/ cash flow, but now building reserve stocks (and 2018 great harvest)
15
Q
What is the wine industry body of England & Wales?
A
- Wine GB
- seeks to act as point of reference for, and to represent vineyard owners and producers in
- technical services
- regulation
- marketing
- education