County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month December 2024

This month the Wines of the Month are from Stopham Vineyard, West Sussex.

They are the Stopham Pinot Gris and Stopham Bacchus, both from the 2023 harvest.

Stopham Vineyard is a 15 acre wine estate located in the beautiful South Downs National Park, near Pulborough in West Sussex. It is a few hundred metres away from the River Arun and the historic monument Stopham Bridge where the quaint White Hart pub serves local food and drinks.

The vineyard specialises in crafting aromatic still white wines from Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Bacchus and traditional method sparkling wine from the Champagne varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The vineyard was planted in 2007 by the head winemaker, Simon Woodhead, who found the perfect site at Stopham for the varietals that they grow. The 21,000 vines were planted on south-facing slopes in free draining, sandy soil at a low altitude.

Their clean, crisp aromatic styles have won many industry awards (IEWA, Wine GB, Decanter WWA) and are always well balanced, great tasting wines. In the winemaker’s terms: “They pair very well with fish, seafood and spicy dishes,” to which I wholeheartedly agree. Both wines have lovely citrus notes but also a very engaging amount of fruit, which leaves you savouring for more.

For me, I have long appreciated Simon’s Pinot Gris, a wine you can take for most occasions and know that all takers will enjoy a glass on its own or with food alike. For the Pinot Gris, I find we have on the nose: citrus, melon and lychee. On the palate: sweet grapefruit, ripe gooseberry and tropical notes with a medium body giving a nice substance to the wine. I agree this works very well with spicey or aromatic foods such as Chinese Duck or a Pad Thai.

For the Bacchus, we have a freshness on the nose, very similar to a French Sauvignon Blanc but softer. Initially white peach, rose petal and then stone fruit, such as apricot, coming through together with delicate citrus. This is a lighter wine, wonderfully subtle and very well made.  

The wine is available direct from Stopham Estate or from selected outlets at around £19 to 20 a bottle. The wine estate runs tours and tastings throughout the year

By Michael Yeoman, Founder of Brighton and Hove Wine Club.

Michael Yeoman specialises in working with small batch wine producers in and around Sussex and the South Downs. He founded Brighton and Hove Wine Club and also creates a range of small batch Sussex brandies, vodka and coffee liqueurs through Spirit of the Downs Distillery based at Bookers Vineyard, Bolney.