Domaine Evremond holds ‘mini harvest’

Domaine Evremond, Champagne Taittinger’s nascent English estate, has enjoyed its first “mini harvest”.

Photo credit: Thomas Alexander Photography

Located in Kent and with vineyards just a year-and-a-half-old, the ‘harvest’ will not be used to make any commercial wine but the results are certainly encouraging for the team which is expecting its first ‘proper’ harvest next year.

Patrick McGrath MW, director of Hatch Mansfield and a joint partner in the project, commented: “We are thrilled that our vines have produced their first grapes after just one and a half years in Kentish soils.

“As the vines are still very young, this has been what I like to call a mini harvest. We are expecting the first full harvest to take place in 2019, Mother Nature permitting, but we are very pleased with the results so far and are very much looking forward to seeing how things develop over the years. It is exciting times.”

Domaine Evremond is the first English vineyard set up by a Champagne house. Planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it will produce sparkling wine.

Following the first harvest next year, the resulting wine is expected to be released in 2023.