The first English Pinot Meunier rosé wine?

Exton Park’s first 100% Pinot Meunier Rosé is being launched at the London Wine Fair this week, from the English Wine Producers’ stand T34.

This is a new departure for Exton Park and winemaker Corinne Seely.  The wine, made entirely from the 2014 vintage – but not named as such – is an exclusive blend of the older Pinot Meunier plots in the 55 acre vineyard, planted in 2003 and onwards.

In the new state-of-the-art winery each plot was vinified and kept separately to provide a wide-ranging palette when Seely created the final cuvee from this exceptional year. It was then bottled in green glass, not only to differentiate between the current, award-winning Rose NV, but also to preserve the colour and quality of the sensitive Meunier grape. And after 12 months on the lees, was disgorged earlier this year – ready for its first appearance in May.

The Exton Park Pinot Meunier Rose shows true Meunier grape characteristics, and is believed to be the only sparkling wine of its kind to be made in England.

Seely notes: “With a radiant pink, almost coral, colour, this Rose is attractively perfumed with notes of early jasmine and honeysuckle on the nose. Dry – at just 6.5 g/l of residual sugar – it is still surprisingly full in the mouth, displaying a gingerbread spiciness, and a fruity white peach finish.”

Ten good reasons to visit the English Wine Producer's stand at the London Wine Fair, Kensington Olympia, May 3-5

1.     Seven top wine producers from 5 different counties showing award-winning wines - Chapel Down, Denbies Wine Estate, Exton Park, Hattingley Valley, Hush Heath, Lyme Bay Winery, Sixteen Ridges

2.    Two new Eenglish wine producers showing their wines for the first time – Lyme Bay Winery (Devon) and Sixteen Ridges (Herefordshire)

3.    Taste your way around English wine styles on the stand – On the trail of Bacchus, Blanc de Blancs and Pinot Noir

4.    Engage with talented winemakers - Corinne Seely (Exton Park Vineyard); Josh Donaghay-Spire (Chapel Down); Emma Rice (Hattingley Valley); Simon Day, (Sixteen Ridges); Liam Idzikowski, (Lyme Bay Winery); Victoria Ash (Hush Heath Estate)

5.    Meet the movers and shakers including owners, CEO’s and sales directors and discover more about these producers and their wines

6.    New product launches – from England’s first sparkling Pinot Meunier Rosé to a luscious dessert wine; some of latest medal-winning wines from across the styles

7.    New vintage wines – the latest releases of sparkling and still wines

8.    International Cool Climate Wine Symposium/English Wine Producers joint industry briefing on Tuesday 3rd May (10.30am)

9.    Afternoon cream tea and sparkling English wine with ICCWS every day at 3.30PM (stand P34)

10. Find out the latest news about English wine week - set to be the busiest ever in 2016, taking place at the end of May.

Other English wine activity at the fair – Nyetimber (L34), Digby Fine English (W35), Coates & Seely (X40), Hampshire Pop-Up Wine Tasting with Susy Atkins, Thursday 5th (9.45am)

3 May 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor