award-winning english bubbly to rival fine Champagne
Wyfold Vineyard Brut & Rosé
6 bottles – £228 £168 (£28 per bottle)
Discover the superb English Quality Sparkling wines of the Trophy-winning Wyfold estate
Awarded a CBE for her work in wine, Barbara Laithwaite began planting her small 2.2-hectare Oxfordshire vineyard in 2003. Ten years later, with her first release, the 2009, she won a Trophy and so an idea that was intended as a hobby, became a full-time passion and took over Barbara’s life.
Since then, she’s won two more Trophies from the toughest UK competitions – those were for her rosé sparkling wine – and many other awards besides. Wyfold was also recently selected by the British Embassy in Washington to serve to visiting dignitaries and guests.
As modest as ever Barbara insists, “I am only the grape grower” … the winemaking she leaves to her son, Henry, at his award-winning sparkling wine estate in Marlow. Both were taught by some of the finest in the business – the late Tony Jordan of Domaine Chandon and Mike Roberts of Ridgeview Estate. Together, Barbara and Henry produce the exceptional Wyfold Brut and Rosé.
Wyfold vineyard lies close to Henley-on-Thames, in the Chilterns, on a high, south-facing slope of flinty gravel mixed with the same prized chalk you find in Champagne … characteristics that are key to the intense minerality of the Wyfold sparkling wines.
In addition, the climate here is very similar to Champagne 20-30 years back, before we started globally warming. Just warm enough to ripen the grapes, but cool enough to retain maximum freshness and bright aromas. Ideal, in fact … bar the occasional spring frost.
“There are many big players in the UK and I like to think we punch well above our weight. Henry and I just concentrate on making the very best wine and letting it speak for itself.”
– Barbara Laithwaite
what is english sparkling WINE?
Great question!
English Quality Sparkling Wines are very similar to Champagne – in style, grape selection and winemaking. They can only be made from Champagne's officially approved trio of grapes – essentially Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. They also have to be made by the same méthode traditionnelle, where the secondary fermentation takes place in bottle ie the bubbles are born inside the bottle (not in a tank).
Why England? Why now?
Southern England has the perfect cooler climate to grow sparkling wine grapes — akin to Champagne’s ideal conditions 20 years ago. It also has the same chalky subsoil as Champagne, ideal for growing sparkling wine grapes.
Well-deserved kudos...
Wyfold Vineyard’s wines regularly win big awards, including a trio of Trophies and high praise from critics, which you'll find further down the page.
On a colouful note: the Pantone Institute chose Wyfold as the official colour reference for English Sparkling. It’s even available as a paint colour in the UK.
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