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Winemaker Peter Hall looks after 6 hectares in the South Downs national park, he also tends after 40 Lambs that graze the hills and vineyards. The wines are named after friends and family of Peter, he only makes small quantities of each cuvee.
This particular cuvee is named for the winemaker's godmother (marraine in french) who was a successful cookery correspondent and columnist. Pooks, or "Pookie" was the affectionate name peter gave her.
As is usual with Peter's wines, he has managed to coax something extra special from the Seyval Blanc grapes. It has a perfect balance of fruit and refreshing acidity, this vintage has aromas of green apple and lemon and a wonderfully long finish.
Awards gold at the IWC competition in 2022, the judges said of it: "Apple and pear, lemon zest with aniseed, crisp palate and a vigourous mousse. Tremendous example of how good Seyval can be with its slightly furry texture softened by cinnamon scents and baked brioche softness."
Sussex has a warm climate and soil types similar to Champagne. Champagne lies on the 49th parallel north while the Sussex Weald lies on the 51st parallel north. Sussex has many south-facing slopes, which are suitable for growing the grape varieties found in sparkling wine, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Peter was a pioneer of English winemaking, planting his small six-acre vineyard in 1974. In that time he learnt much about growing grapes in a difficult place, "I’ve come to appreciate that the best wine is made in the vineyard. The winemaker’s job is to let good grapes express themselves naturally."
Each year Peter made two cuvées, one from Seyval Blanc and the other from Chardonnay and Pinots. Both where named for close friends.
Seyval blanc is a hybrid wine grape variety used to make white wines. Its vines ripen early, are productive and are suited to fairly cool climates like England and the Finger Lakes, USA. It contains some non-vinifera genes and as such it is outlawed in the EU for wine production.
Seyval Blanc wines have a characteristic citrus note in the aroma and taste, and a pleasing minerality.
