Spring Additions to the Portfolio
With sunnier days ahead of us, a few bank holidays on the horizon, and a hint of normality slowly emerging, it’s time to kick-start the Spring season with the right wine portfolio. From Canada, to England, to France, we have just added four amazing producers that are champions of their respective regions, crafting award-winning wines that represent their terroir and history. Let us introduce you to the newest additions to our portfolio:
‘Napa in England’: Balfour Wines
Not for nothing did Oz Clarke say of Hush Heath Estate, home of Balfour wines, “it could be Napa Valley, rather than England.” Although Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn’s winery set out as a small passion project – barely a handful of vineyards on their country estate – this stunning winery now sprawls over 400 acres of Kent’s rolling hills, and is one of the most important proponents of wine tourism in the country.
Estate aside, the wines are the real star of the show here. Ditching his city job after the 2008 stock market crash, Richard had barely begun pursuing winemaking as a full-time career before his 2004 Balfour Brut Rose stormed the 2008 IWC Awards, knocking several more established wineries out of its way as it scooped the coveted Best English Wine trophy. Fame followed; from being an official wine partner at the 2012 London Olympics, to serving the first English wine ever on a first-class BA flight, it quickly became clear that Hush Heath Estate and its Balfour range were here not only to stay, but to conquer.
Nowadays, Balfour wines fly the flag for English viticulture across the globe, and every year thousands visit the winery to enjoy stunning vineyard walks, ancient woodlands, and tastings of some of the very best the UK has to offer. Freshness and precision are hallmarks of the Balfour range, and a distinctively British bouquet of balance, vibrant acidity and elegance shines through in these personality-packed wines.
Canadian champions: Mission Hill
When a winery is named its country’s ‘Winery of the Year’ a whopping six times, you know it’s time to take notice. Mission Hill, though, doesn’t rest on its laurels. In fact, it’s all go for this dynamic pioneer of the Okanagan Valley, whose quality winemaking is recognised across the world for revolutionising perceptions of Canadian wine.
Although the Okanagan Valley was largely unknown as a viticultural region when founder Anthony von Mandl stepped up to the challenge of launching a winery there, he knew that it would be a success. Boasting possibly the most diverse soil of any wine region, the valley’s optimal climate sees it receive three hours more sunlight each summer day than California’s Napa, balanced by cool nights and minimal rainfall. Which, all in all, sets it up to produce some pretty phenomenal wines.
In just over three decades, Mission Hill’s dedication to sustainable farming, organics, and cultivating this extraordinary terroir has led to a staggeringly impressive portfolio. The winery is often hailed as ‘Versailles of the Valley’, producing Bordeaux-style reds alongside elegant Pinot Noirs and aromatic whites that have, over the years, collected a bevy of awards too long to list. Every wine captures its vineyard’s unique, distinct geology and microclimate, amplifying the subtle differences of each site in the region.
Provencal Perfection: Chateau de Berne
Nothing goes with summer sun quite like Provence rosé, and no-one is as quintessentially Provencal as Chateau de Berne. Nestled in the undulating hills of the Haut Var, this historic estate boasts south-facing vineyards that receive up to 3000 hours of sunshine a year, sheltered by stretches of pine forest and lavender fields.
But this idyllic corner of the world has produced wine long before Provence Rosé shot to popularity on UK shelves – and even before the fruits of Bordeaux and Burgundy made it to these shores. Located on the Aurelian Way, a Roman road linking Italy and Spain, Chateau de Berne was an important trading post for wines over two millennia ago. And while Roman merchants may be a thing of the past, wines of exceptional quality – good enough to be transported to Italy, Spain and beyond – remain.
Although the estate produces whites and reds, it is their rosés that take centre stage. Crafted from vineyards in organic conversion, Chateau de Berne’s team of expert viticulturalists blend tradition with modern techniques to produce a range of elegant rosé wines that balance rounded acidity with subtle fruit, and embody the inimitable personality of Provence.
Flagship Provence: Chateau Des Bertrands – Walker & Wodehouse Exclusive
Nestled in the Var hinterland, in Le Cannet-des-Maures, Château des Bertrands lies at the heart of a Natura 2000 protected area in the Maures Plain, home of incredible biodiversity. A historic Cotes de Provence flagship vineyard, its unique geology, alongside the patient dedication of its teams, yield character-filled wines.
The exceptional location of their 80-hectare vineyard is characterised by the distinctive geology of the surrounding hills, formed 500 million years ago, and maquis vegetation. The vines are cultivated with the utmost care, without the use of chemicals, and the vineyard is in the process of organic conversion. Mediterranean varietals, in particular Cinsault and Grenache, are grown on sandstone soil and give the wines remarkable structure and mineral taste, combining finesse and delicacy.
The Chateau’s main focus is rosé wine, characterised by delicate white fruit flavours and exotic notes. Their rosé is refined, elegant and delectable, with subtle minerals and a saline finish.
Want to learn more about the new producers?
Get in touch with us here!