HISTORIC NORFOLK DRINKS BRAND LAUNCHES ITS FIRST EVER NORFOLK SPARKLING WINE
One of the oldest drinks brands in Norfolk is to launch its very first sparkling wine – using grapes grown at its Tipsy Anchor vineyard in Spooner Row, near Wymondham.
Bullards English Sparkling Rosé is being launched with the 2009 vintage, a year described by wine guru Jancis Robinson as ‘a great year for sparkling wines’ in England.
Made from Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois grapes, the pink sparkler has been created using the Traditional Method of making sparkling wine through secondary fermentation in the bottle – identical to how Champagne is made.
The limited edition fizz is described by former chairman of the English Vineyard Association Roger Marchbank as having ‘fruity notes of strawberry and raspberry sorbet, mixed with a nice acidity’.
“Our small vineyard in Spooner Row is a bit of a well-kept secret, but it has been producing top-quality grapes for many years now,” said Bullards business development director Joe Evans.
“Up until now we have sold the grapes to other wineries, but we decided to hold back some of the wonderful 2009 vintage and make our own sparkling wine from it. With the help of the award-winning Wiston Estate Winery in West Sussex, we have created a stunning rosé Traditional Method Norfolk fizz, and we are very proud to add it to the Bullards brand offering.”
The Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois grapes, which are all grown in Bullards’ 2.5 acre Tipsy Anchor vineyard in Spooner Row by viticulturalist Michael McAully, are subject to a pneumatic pressing combined with a short maceration on the skins to extract the pink colour.
Once the initial fermentation is complete, the wine is then subject to secondary fermentation in the bottle, ensuring that the lees impart the maximum aromas and finesse to the wine.
The Bullards sparkling wine will initially only be available through its Chantry Place store, and online at www.bullardsspritis.co.uk. It costs £40 a bottle.
Free tastings of the new sparkling wine will be available in Bullards’ Chantry Place store on Saturday 30th April.