The Bolney Estate

A midway rest is much needed when travelling South to catch a ferry to France: The Bolney Estate was the perfect place. Tucked away down a leafy lane with vines growing along side the road this vineyard is a fine example of how English Wine is becoming so popular.

At the end of the lane is the car park, natural and in keeping with the surrounding vines. A large modern style barn stands proud above the rows and rows of various grape varieties with a superb balcony inviting you to stay and enjoy the view.

The vines growing along side the car park

Everything is on the upper floor of this huge barn with the lower level being where all the hard work happens. Bolney's shop welcomes you with its full range of wines displayed in classic modern shelving that makes each bottle look so inviting,

The Bolney Estate has been producing wine for over 40 years and now produces a great collection of red, white and rosé wine as well as an extensive range of sparkling wine made using the Traditional Method as in Champagne.

Bolney reds:   Kew Red, Lychgate Red, Pinot Noir and Ryecroft Red

Bolney whites:   Bacchus, Lychgate White, Kew White and Pinot Gris

Bolney rosés:   Kew Rosè, Recency Rosé and Bolney Rosé 

Bolney sparkling:  Bolney Bubbly,  Eighteen Acre Rosè,  Cuvée Noir, 

Classic Cuvée,  Kew English Sparkling Rosé,  Kew English Sparkling White, 

Blanc de Noirs and Blanc de Blanc

Bolney Estate's superb shop

We initially met The Bolney Estate at Love Wine Guildford; their sparkling wine is superb and at that tasting it was hard to choose a favourite. I did enjoy their Bacchus white too so this time with lunch I decided to try a different wine and selected Lychgate White: plenty of apple and apricot with elderflower highlights, a style of wine I enjoy.

What a selection: Lychgate White was my choice

Lunch was in The Eighten Acre, Bolney's restaurant with its amazing balcony overlooking the vines. We ate inside, opting for a ploughmans and a feta & beetroot salad before moving outside to enjoy coffee in the perfect English setting. The food, the wine snd the setting were perfect and if it wasn't for a booked ferry to France I could have stayed all afternoon.

Coffee? Wine? Perfect setting to enjoy either

At the London Wine Fair in May The Bolney Estate launched a new product: Rosso, English Vermouth...... and I loved it. It is English hedgerow in a bottle, full of sloes and hedge berries with a superb herbiness, absolutely delicious. 

Although travelling on to France I had to buy a bottle which has been safely wrapped and treasured all holiday, apart from one photo shoot, ready to be enjoyed in our own small piece of England when we return home . 

Exported to France!

Thank you Bolney for the perfect rest on our travels south; we will be sure to visit when passing by and look forward to seeing you at future wine events.