A big vote of thanks goes to Emma Watts, Head of Production and Jo Arkle, Winemaker for hosting a tour of Chapel Down Disgorging Plant, based in Ashford, Kent.
With 4,400 hectares of vineyards in the UK, owned by around 200 wineries, Chapel Down has approximately 414 hectares of planted vineyards, circa 8.5% and currently produces around 35% of UK English Sparkling Wine volume.
Many of Chapel Down’s vineyards are all on the same chalk seam, boasting the same terroir as Champagne region and benefiting from conditions very much suited to sparkling wines.
Chapel Down has heavily invested in both vineyards and machinery and focusses solely on leading the English Sparkling wine market using a mix of grape varieties– including Bacchus, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay (60% of volume), Siegerrebe, Pinot Meunier.
Our tour coincided with the first day of harvest, which will continue until mid October, with all grapes destined for their sparkling wines being traditionally hand picked and going to presses as whole bunches.
Once pressed, the juice is clarified by flotation. The juice is then run off and yeast added (20 different strains, depending upon what is being fermented).
Once fermented, the base wine will be used either for still, carbonated or sparkling production. The sparkling wine is bottled and given time for secondary fermentation, known as on lees for an average of 18 months depending on brand.
Chapel Down’s sparkling wines are finally “riddled” via their automated system and, once ready for final bottling, the bottles are transferred to the disgorging line where the excess yeast, in the neck of the bottle, is frozen and the frozen yeast plug removed. The dosage is then added to the wine. The dosage liqueur is sugar and sulphites at a level agreed by the winemakers. The bottles are then corked and wired, agitated to mix the dosage, labelled and boxed to be stored ready for dispatch..
Chapel Down runs their disgorging plant all year round and, with plans to have their own bottling line within the new winery, they will be able to fill continuously throughout the year.
The tour concluded with a wine tasting of six of Chapel Down’s best wines, including their Grand Reserve, Classic Brut, Bacchus, Kit’s Coty Bacchus and A Touch of Sparkle.
Again, a superb tour and many thanks to Emma and Jo!
