There are many that say that no matter how you dress it up, any sparkling wine that is not French and in particular from Champagne is just not in the same league. I used to think along those lines but then I had my ideas turned upside down by Stanlake Park! I have to say I haven’t tried the whole range but the Brut Superior is one that should be looked out for and that those who won’t deviate from Champagne should try before they make their home on the Champagne side of the fence. I have had other sparkling wines from around the world, including the Australian Green Point and wasn’t disappointed but Stanlake Park is in a new league. The Brut Superior is made in the traditional method way and this can be seen on both the nose and palate with toasty, biscuity aromas and flavours yet retaining a young fresh feel, I would liken it to Taittinger Champagne.
What’s even better about Stanlake Park is that you can visit the actual vineyard and purchase from the cellar shop and enjoy the gardens hopefully in the English summer weather. You may be able to do the same in Champagne but that does equate to a ferry ride or a flight, whereas you can get to Stanlake Park in the comfort of your own car, though don’t go trying to many different styles if having to drive home!
So I think it is safe to say that I have joined the English wines for English people side and maybe they won’t be able to supply the demand if there was a sudden boom for English wine but for those who fancy a slight change from the normal run of the mill Champagne and wine, give it a try and see if your perceptions change about good old England!
I am hoping to come to Stanlake Park in the next few weeks to stock up on some great English wines and also take part in the English Wine Week that you are running. Your Brut Superior has left me wanting to try your other wines!
Shoe and Wine Gal.
As the owners of Stanlake Park we enjoyed reading your comments. Over the Easter period more than 500 people tried to correctly identify the 2 English sparkling wines from Stanlake from the 2 French Champagnes, in a blind tasting, in our ‘CHAMPAGNE CHALLENGE’. (We also included our sparkling Rose, but this was a bit of a give away!). 25 people got it right. Most were very surprised. Some ‘experts’ who came were shocked to find they had chosen the English over the French. Most of all it was great fun. Peter & Annette Dart.
I will have to give your vineyard a visit, I think more should be done to promote the English wine trade!
Shoe and Wine Gal
Delighted you have discovered the delights of good, well made English wines. There’s a quiet revolution going on and your comments help us all.
My own company make the well reknowned and widely available Chapel Down wines and you can get them both here at the vineyard in Kent where we have a fabulous new restaurant http://www.richarphillipsatchapeldown.co.uk as well as top restaurants in London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. You can also get a bottle in Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury too!
Frazer Thompson