Wines made from Pinot blanc grapes of England
Discover the best wines made with Pinot blanc as a single variety or as a blend of England.
Pinot Blanc is a grape variety that originated in Burgundy, mutated from Pinot Gris. Today, it is grown in Alsace where it is called klevner when blended with auxerrois. The continental climate, with its cold winters and hot summers, is particularly suited to pinot blanc. It is resistant to frost in winter and in summer, the roots draw the minerals it needs from the warm soil. Its bunches are made up of small berries with thick skins and melting pulp that produce fruity, spicy wines, balanced between acidity and alcohol. pinot blanc is also used for crémants and sparkling wines. Pinot Blanc is also used for Crémant and sparkling wines. It is widely grown in Italy, where it covers almost 7,000 hectares, and is also found in Germany, Austria, Canada and South Africa.
England, although more famous for gin and beer, has been producing wine since Roman Imperial times (100 – 400 AD). Historically the country has not been known for the quality of its winemaking, inhibited by its northerly latitude and resulting cool Climate. However the last decade or so has seen considerable progress and expansion, and increases in planting of noble Grape varieties. Significant chaptilzation to off-set the high Acidity of under-ripe grapes was once common practice but since the 1970s and particularly since the turn of the millennium natural sugar levels have increased in the Vineyard and wines have increased in quality and reputation.
In the same way that a private domaine can support a family, a co-operative winery can support an entire village. So when the Cave de Cairanne was effectively declared bankrupt in 2014, a whole community of growers was left hanging from a thread. ‘Closing a co-op is like closing a church. It supports businesses, families, generations,’ says Denis Crespo. He’s an unlikely saviour, as his roots are in natural winemaking. But he provided the necessary electric shock to get the co-op’s heart pumping ...
The lengthy process arriving to this point has been rife with controversy as this new DO overlaps with what has since 1998 been the named Rioja Alavesa subzone within the greater DOCa Rioja. This subzone has been part of DOCa Rioja, regarded as Spain’s pioneering denomination of origin, since its original creation as a DO nearly a century ago in 1925. The core of the issue is that nearly all of DOCa Rioja falls administratively within the Spanish autonomous region of La Rioja, with the exception ...
The week-long trip into one of France’s most exciting appellations with closed-door access to some of the most revered vineyards and their cellars will be going ahead this June. Walls has curated a trip to highlight the very best the Rhône has to offer – a 360 trip that encompasses great food, delicious wine, sightseeing and downtime – where he’ll be imparting his expert knowledge of the region, honed over the years. Download trip brochure Trip Highlights Include: Meeting some of the greatest ...