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Simpsons' Wine Estate |
< Simpsons' Wine Estate
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Simpsons' Wine Estate |
We laid down roots for Simpsons' Wine Estate in 2014 amid the pristine beauty of the Elham Valley where the soil could scarcely be improved upon for viticulture. Our vineyards are protected from the whimsy of the English climate by ancient woodland and anchored in the iconic chalky soils that are so highly revered in the world of both still and sparkling wine.
At Simpsons', we believe that the finest wines convey a rich sense of provenance and integrity, firmly rooted in the characteristics and exquisite nuances of their terroir. This is why we settled for nothing less than the finest parcels of land in southern England to plant the vines for Simpsons’ exceptional English wine.
We planted the first 10 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir on our estate in 2014. This is our Roman Road Vineyard, situated alongside the route the Romans first marched when invading England in AD 43, bringing with them the first vines. A further 20 hectares of the same three grape varieties were established on the southern slopes of the village during 2016 and 2017. This is our Railway Hill Vineyard, so called because the Canterbury to Folkestone light railway passed through this site in the late 19th and first half of the 20th Century.
This autumn heralded the arrival of the eighth harvest at Simpsons’ Wine Estate. The 2023 season started very brightly with no frost and a beautifully warm, dry and settled flowering period in June. Despite the rainfall across July and August, which resulted in some isolated canopy damage, the final dry ripening period in September meant that overall the fruit remained healthy and clean. This was achieved by our extremely dedicated team, who carefully monitored our vineyard sites, and oversaw a meticulous spray programme, which was always in alignment with the parameters of the SWGB guidelines.
With careful assessment, we began to pick at the start of October It is a steady and selective process, saving our Burgundian still red and white clones to last, in order to achieve optimum maturity.
Whilst this year’s vintage has resulted in average yields from our vines, we believe that this has increased the levels of concentration and given rise to more qualitative fruit. Our winery team will continue their work long after the final fruit has been pressed, as the 2023 wines undergo their vinification processes. Into the new year, we will prepare for tirage and bottling, taking place from the end of January through until early spring. We cannot wait to share the fruits of our labour with you and toast another successful year for the English wine industry!
Our harvest has also coincided with our exciting British Airways Club World launch news and our preparations for launching into the US market in time for Christmas celebrations. We look forward seeing where the Simpsons’ journey takes us next…
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