Norfolk’s burgeoning wine scene recently took centre stage in London with a showcase designed to highlight the county’s dynamic wine offerings. Organised by Chalk Communications and hosted at the Vining Street Wine Club in Brixton, the event brought together well-established and emerging Norfolk wineries, providing them a platform beyond the usual focus on English wine regions like Sussex and Kent.
The tasting emphasised Norfolk’s still wines – a growing category in English winemaking. John Hemmant of Chet Valley Vineyard aptly described Norfolk as the “northern frontier” of English winemaking, with its unique climates and soils fostering exciting developments. Among the featured wineries, Burn Valley Vineyard stood out with its 12 acre site in North Creake, planted in 2016 with a diverse range of grapes, including Solaris, Bacchus, Schonburger, and Pinot Noir. Head winemaker Matthew Abbey presented their upcoming 2024 orange wine, a unique blend of Schonburger and Pinot Gris that generated considerable excitement.
Chet Valley Vineyard, led by John and Bridget Hemmant, showcased their commitment to sustainability, blending permaculture with technical expertise to produce wines deeply connected to their environment. Equally impressive was Hawkers Hill Vineyard, established in 2016 near Burnham Market by Anthea and Mark Thompson. With 7,000 vines of Bacchus, Solaris, Early Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, their focus on still wines highlights Norfolk’s growing capabilities.
Walsingham Estate Vineyard, a family-run operation established in 2019, brought attention to its 15,000 vines of Bacchus, Solaris, and Early Pinot Noir. Despite its recent start, the estate is already demonstrating the potential of Norfolk’s terroir with its early vintages. Meanwhile, Winbirri Vineyard, founded in 2007 by Stephen Dyer and now led by his son Lee, remains Norfolk’s flagship winery. Known internationally for its award-winning Bacchus, which was named “Best Single Varietal White Wine in the World” at the 2017 Decanter Awards, Winbirri continues to set the benchmark for quality in the region.
The event also highlighted the efforts of Chalk Communications in promoting England’s emerging wine regions. Co-founded by Katie Lawton and Ashley Saunders, Chalk specialises in tailored marketing strategies that help wineries like those in Norfolk grow their brands and reach new audiences.
Norfolk’s winemakers are proving that the county’s unique conditions can produce wines that rival more established regions. From innovative blends to outstanding still wines, Norfolk’s “northern frontier” is undoubtedly a region to watch.
Vining Street Wine Club: viningstreetwineclub@gmail.com
Chalk Communications: hello@chalkcomms.co.uk
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