Bluebell Vineyard Estates - Harvest Experience - Saturday 11 October
Between the famous Bluebell Steam Railway and the historic Sheffield Park and Garden, Bluebell Vineyard has been quietly working away for almost a decade on their range of quality English Sparkling Wine, handmade by the traditional method – the painstaking process also used to produce Champagne.
Now, with a multi-award winning premium product, the Vineyard will be opening its doors for the first time and inviting the public to join in with the all-important harvest , providing a wonderful opportunity to experience English Sparkling Wine production first hand. Visitors will spend half a day picking grapes in the picturesque fields followed by a tutored wine tasting from one of Bluebell Vineyard’s Team and lunch.
Planted in 2005, the vineyard’s favoured climate and terroir ensures that it is able to rival the achievements of well-established wineries from around the world. By achieving over twenty-five national and international awards (including medals from Decanter and the International Wine Challenge), Bluebell has confirmed its status amongst England’s top producers.
Most recently, the vineyard was awarded the top mark for a Rosé at the prestigious ‘Judgement of Parsons Green’ for their Brut Rosé 2010, and were also the biggest medal winners at the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2014 (UKVA), notably taking a coveted Gold medal for their Classic Cuveé 2010. Jancis Robinson also awarded both the Brut Rose 2010 and the Blanc de Blancs 2009 an impressive score of 17.5.
As the demand for English Sparkling wine rapidly increases, the vineyard has quickly grown in size to almost 100 acres, stretching across two counties - East and West Sussex. Headed by winemaker, Kevin Sutherland, the team of Viticulturalists lovingly nurture the three classic Champagne grape varieties; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier throughout the year. With the approach of harvest, the grapes are tasted daily to determine the optimum moment for hand harvesting.
Visiting the vineyard couldn’t be easier - take advantage of the rich Sussex heritage by travelling from London to East Grinstead station and boarding a Bluebell Railway Steam engine to the Sheffield Park Station, just minutes from the Estate.
Why not make a weekend of your visit, with camping at The Old Dairy (opposite the vineyard) or Kitts Cottage, ‘glamping’ (Yurts) nearby at WOWO or bed & breakfast at the award winning inns such as the Griffin Inn, Fletching and The Crown, Horsted Keynes. There’s also plenty to do, with the historic Ashdown Forest just four miles away, Sheffield Park National Trust Garden close by and Heaven Farm just a stone’s throw away.
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Bluebell Vineyard Estates
Glenmore Farm, Sliders Lane, Furners Green, East Sussex TN22 3RU
Telephone: 01825 791561
Order online at www.bluebellvineyard.co.uk
instagram.com/bluebellvineyard
