Wiston Estate
Summary
Wiston Estate is a family-owned sparkling wine producer operating 16-20 hectares of vineyards on the chalky, south-facing slopes of West Sussex's South Downs, focusing exclusively on traditional method sparkling wines from Champagne varieties. Under winemaker Dermot Sugrue's guidance since their 2006 founding, they've rapidly established a reputation for quality through traditional techniques including hand harvesting, use of a rare Coquard basket press, and extended lees aging that often exceeds Champagne's minimum requirements.
Heritage & Leadership
Wiston Estate is situated in the South Downs of West Sussex, England, where the Goring family has maintained ownership of the broader estate for generations. The estate's journey into winemaking began relatively recently, with vineyards planted in 2006 on the chalky slopes of the South Downs. Wiston's commercial wine production commenced shortly thereafter, with their first commercial vintage released between 2008 and 2010.
Harry and Pip Goring serve as key figures in the estate's ownership structure, with Pip playing a particularly influential role in the vineyard project. The winemaking operation has been guided from its early days by Dermot Sugrue, who has been instrumental in establishing Wiston's reputation in the English wine industry. Sugrue's expertise and vision have helped shape the estate's approach to sparkling wine production and its subsequent success.
The transformation of a portion of this traditional agricultural property into vineyards represents a significant diversification for the historic Wiston Estate, aligning with the broader growth of England's sparkling wine sector in the early 21st century.
Vineyards & Wines
Wiston Estate's vineyards cover approximately 16-20 hectares of the South Downs, benefiting from protected locations and advantageous south-facing slopes. The estate's geological foundation consists of chalky soils that share compositional similarities with the terroir of Champagne, France. This chalk provides excellent drainage—a crucial factor in England's relatively wet climate.
The vineyard is planted primarily with the traditional Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. These varieties form the foundation of Wiston's focus on high-quality traditional method sparkling wines. The estate's portfolio encompasses both vintage and non-vintage sparkling wines, including Blanc de Blancs (produced exclusively from Chardonnay) and sparkling rosé expressions.
The combination of chalky soils, careful site selection, and appropriate grape varieties has allowed Wiston to produce sparkling wines that showcase the distinctive character of the South Downs terroir. The estate has received particular recognition for their Blanc de Blancs and vintage cuvées, which demonstrate the potential of English sparkling wine on the international stage.
Philosophy & Practice
Wiston Estate's winemaking philosophy centers on traditional methods and quality-focused practices. The estate produces all its sparkling wines using the traditional method—the same process employed in Champagne—involving secondary fermentation in the bottle to create fine bubbles and complex flavors.
A distinctive element of Wiston's production approach is their use of a traditional Coquard basket press, which is relatively uncommon in English winemaking. This traditional press is valued for its gentle pressing capabilities, allowing for precise juice extraction while minimizing harsh phenolics.
Quality assurance begins in the vineyard with hand harvesting, ensuring careful selection of grapes. The winemaking process typically includes extended aging on lees, often exceeding the minimum requirements established for vintage Champagne. This extended contact with the yeast cells contributes additional complexity and textural elements to the finished wines.
Wiston Estate operates within the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) framework for English Quality Sparkling Wine and maintains membership in WineGB, the industry organization representing grape growers and winemakers throughout Great Britain. These affiliations reflect the estate's commitment to quality standards and participation in the broader English wine community.