Greyfriars launches ‘royal wedding wine’ and plans single vineyard releases

English winery Greyfriars Vineyard has launched a limited edition Cuvée Royale and plans to release two further single vineyard expressions including an Old Vines Blanc de Blancs made from the winery’s original vines that were planted in 1989.

The Surrey-based wine producer has released its 2015 Cuvée Royale, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from its Monkshatch vineyard.

While the name was chosen before the impending royal nuptials were announced, the winery believes its limited-edition fizz will be the perfect way to celebrate.

Produced in a limited run of 2,400 individual numbered bottles, the cuvée was fermented and aged in old oak barriques. Having spent 24 months on its lees, it was disgorged in March this year and is now available to buy on the winery’s website for £30 a bottle.

Monkshatch vineyard is a 8.5 hectare site situated a quarter of a mile away from Greyfriars vineyard, beside the winery’s new underground chalk cellar. The vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Précoce and small parcels of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Meunier.

Greyfriars Vineyard owner and winemaker, Mike Wagstaff, commented: “In addition to our non-vintage and vintage ranges of sparkling wine, three years ago we decided to create some small parcels of extra special wines that reflect the very best of each particular vintage. These are either single vineyard wines or blends which best reflect the unique character of the vintage. The first of these is the Cuvée Royale from 2015 which is a blend of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from our Monkshatch vineyard.”

“The working name for the wine was always Cuvée Royale, as we sensed it was going to be something special. Now we have come to release this wine is particularly appropriate in light of the forthcoming Royal Wedding.”

Wagstaff told db that the other single vineyard wines due to be released include a Blanc de Noirs and an Old Vines Blanc de Blancs, produced using the original vines planted on the site that are now almost 30 years’ old.

While pricing is not yet confirmed, both releases are likely to retail for £35 a bottle, Wagstaff added.

Among the English wineries to have already released single vineyard sparklers are Nyetimber with its Tillingdon Single Vineyard range which retails for around £75 and Chapel Down’s Kit’s Coty range – the Kit’s Coty Coeur de Cuvée 2013 retailing for £100. Greyfriars’ release therefore is one of the more affordable on the market.

In terms of still wine, Cornwall’s Camel Valley produces a Bacchus grown in its Darnibole vineyard, which received a Protected Designation Origin (PDO) from the European Union last year. Chapel Down, meanwhile, produces a still Chardonnay as part of its Kit’s Coty range and recently added a single vineyard Bacchus to the line-up.

Alongside the Cuvée Royale, Greyfriars produces a vintage sparkling rosé, a Blancs de Blancs (oaked and un-oaked), a Classic Cuvée, a non-vintage Cuvée and a non-vintage sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. Its still wine range comprises a Pinot Gris, a rosé (Pinot Noir Précoce) and a Sauvignon Blanc. Its vineyards span 40 acres over two sites with a total of 62,000 vines planted.