2018 Temporarily out of stock: SAFFRON GRANGE, Classic Cuvée. Saffron Walden, England

Saffron Grange is just outside Saffron Walden in north Essex, only 45 minutes drive from us.
Paul and Ros Edwards give us the reasons for their choice of site:
“Our vineyard sits on the same chalk seam that runs all the way from Northern France’s renowned wine regions, up through Sussex and into Essex.
100 million years ago, our land was deeply submerged by tropical seawater teaming with macroscopic, calcareous algae and shellfish from which decaying fragments very slowly deposited to create a deep, porous chalk bed. In more recent times a thin overlying clay-loam soil developed on the surface which just covers the flinty, upper chalk.
This rare soil formation perfectly combines with the unique climate in this little pocket of England to create excellent conditions to grow grapes. In wet weather it provides excellent drainage, whilst holding enough moisture during the dry season to encourage the grapes’ flavour development ahead of harvest.”
The area was also once home to the Woolly Mammoth – hence the label design!

50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier; aged fro 2 years on the lees.

Unusually dry for English fizz (only 7 grammes of sugar) and yet this is delicate, fine and charming – none of the harsh ‘greenness’ that afflicts so many of its competitors.
It’s brilliant for us to be able to support a local vineyard that is truly in the top echelon of UK sparkling wine production.