Decanter World Wine AwardsChapoutier looks for English vineland
- Thursday 12 May 2011
English wine: 'potential' Photo by Camel Valley Vineyard
The Rhone veteran is convinced English wine has a future and he is actively looking for land – but not in the more orthodox vineyard areas of Kent or Sussex where the majority of English wine is made.
As he said, ‘I like to be a pioneer. I’m not interested in limestone - the roots don’t spread far enough and it doesn’t give interesting minerality to the wine.’
He would not divulge which region he is interested in, ‘as once that is known, the prices will go up.’
Chapoutier said he is ‘sure there is potential’ in English wine but it must find its ‘grape of reference’.
While he acknowledged the quality of English sparkling wine, he said that it would always be compared to Champagne and would be seen to be second best.
He said that he would be investigating the potential of the Swiss aromatic variety Chasselas, which he believes is very well-suited to the English climate and terroir.
Chapoutier has just released a new range of wines from Alsace, including grand cru Rieslings. He also makes wine in the the south of France, Australia and Portugal.
Have your say!
chris hatto
May 15 19:42
mr chapoutier,we have our grape of reference.bacchus,we dont need chasselas or french intervention thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stephen Skelton
May 13 05:28
Oh yes - English Fendant - bring it on!
Roger Corder
May 12 22:19
There seems to be a level of ignorance about the soils of Sussex as it is not all limestone. The iron clay of Wealden has an important historical past. But for winemakers the fact that wines of Pétrus and some parts of Pommard are produced from vineyards on iron-rich clay should be stimulating interest in the potential of this English terroir!
David Furer
May 12 17:50
Er, gents, Chasselas is decidedly neutral, non-aromatic. And with agricultural land prices in England already dear I find Mssr. Chapoutier's assertion of them increasing merely because of his interest a bit self-aggrandizing.
Off to a good start, keep the hits coming!