County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month October 2025

Ambriel English Reserve MV

As we move into Autumn and towards Christmas, I start to look for more considered wines with more character and this month’s WOTM certainly delivers that for us.

Background

It was an absolute pleasure to visit Wendy and Charles Outhwaite, the owners of Ambriel vineyard in West Sussex, hidden behind an unassuming entrance and modest but perfectly formed sign is Ambriel vineyard who quietly do their thing and create their wines with amazing views over Susses towards the tress of Chanctonbury Ring on the South Downs in the distance. Ambriel sell their wines across the world including the US and a strong following across Scandinavia. They are focused on creating sparkling wines mainly made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a small amount of Pinot Meunier. Wendy and Charles leave their wine longer in the cellar “on the lees” which allows them to develop more intense aged notes as well as bakery notes such as brioche and toastiness.

The Ambriel English Reserve a single-vineyard, Traditional Method, English Sparkling Demi-Sec which is quite unusual for the UK and more popular in the continent in Italy and French. The higher sugar content in this wine makes it more food friendly and particularly suited for deserts, puddings or cheeses.

Tasting Notes

Colour – The wine is a lovely gold colour with fine bubbles

On the nose – Initial honeyed nose with a hint of violet followed by golden syrup

On the palate – Apricot initially and a fruit explosion with strawberries. A melting pot of several aged vintages give an inviting complex and rich nose. Good citrus acidity balances the additional sugar used to make this demi sec wine.

Overall

This wine is a heavy hitter in terms of berries and fruit which great character.

Pairing suggestions: This wine is robust and full flavoured so can work well with string flavoured foods in particular fragrant spicy food, blue or intense cheeses, fruity puddings, apple tart or your Christmas pudding.

Wine Info

Blend: 68% Pinot Noir, 31% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot Meunier

Harvest date: October 2015

Time on the bottle lees: 8.5 years (104 months)

Dosage: 32g/L

Alcohol: 11%

Where to buy

To buy go to Ambriel wines, you can buy online for £34 a bottle or even better arrange a tour around the vineyard and winery with stunning tasting rooms. Further details can be found at https://ambrielsparkling.com/

Written for County Business Club by Michael Yeoman, English Wine Specialist and producer of Spirit of the Downs, award winning local artisan Sussex Brandies, Grape Vodkas and Boosy Barista Coffee Liqueur.