Chateau de Sours funds research at Plumpton

As a result of the donation, which together with UK government grants makes a total of £140,000, Plumpton College has appointed Dr Belinda Kemp as a full-time lecturer and research coordinator in wine.

Kemp has previously worked at the award-winning Nyetimber estate in Sussex, and has a PhD on the effects of vine leaf removal on fruit ripening, from New Zealand's Lincoln University.

In her new role she will work with Jon Danielewicz, an expert on oxidation in wine, and Professor Richard Marchal, of the University of Reims.

She will also establish research links with the University of Brighton's Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Chateau de Sours owner Martin Krajewski, whose daughter is a Plumpton graduate, said, ‘We are encouraging them to send students over to Bordeaux, and have 60 arriving next week. Obviously some of their research will be valuable to us, particularly in the field of sparkling and rosé wine.’

He added that Chateau de Sours consultants Xavier Chone and Florent Dumeau would also lecture and ‘provide practical and hands-on experience of their specialist subjects’.

Chris Foss, head of the Wine Department at Plumpton, said, ‘This is a great boost for our research programme and will make a tremendous difference to the UK wine industry, which is growing in leaps and bounds.’