The wines of Gusbourne

Gusbourne is one of England's best-known wineries and one of the pioneers of English sparkling wine. The winery is located near the village of Appledore in Kent, in south-east England, but also has vineyards in West Sussex. Gusbourne makes traditional-method sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, as well as still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. All its wines are made from grapes from its own vineyards. Gusbourne is the only winery to have won the title of English Wine Producer of the Year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) three times.

Check out our 3 wines made by Gusbourne

The history of the estate goes back to 1410, when it was owned by John de Goosebourne. It was originally a goose farm, and the family name later gave rise to the name Gusbourne. The family coat of arms with three geese can still be seen in the parish church of Appledore, and a modern version of the goose appears on every bottle from the winery.

The modern history began in 2004, when South African-born entrepreneur Andrew Weeber took over the estate. He wanted to make English sparkling wines that could compete with the best in the world. He planted the first vines that same year and invested in modern equipment. From the outset he opted for sustainable viticulture with as little intervention as possible. The first wines, the Brut Reserve 2006 and the Blanc de Blancs 2006, came onto the market in 2010 and were immediately very well received.

Gusbourne has around 90 hectares of vineyards: some 60 hectares in Kent and 30 hectares in West Sussex. In Appledore the vineyards lie on an ancient south-facing slope, at around 45 metres above sea level and a few kilometres from the coast. This vineyard is one of the warmest spots in England. The sea, sea breezes, sunshine and the southern aspect together create good conditions for ripening the grapes. The soil here consists mainly of clay with sand and shells.

The West Sussex vineyards are on the Goodwood estate, at the foot of the South Downs. There the soil is chalk with a layer of flinty loam, producing tauter, more mineral wines. Gusbourne's sparkling wines are often a blend of grapes from both areas.

Gusbourne grows the three classic Champagne grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, mostly Burgundian clones. The winery keeps intervention in the vineyard to a minimum, and all grapes are picked by hand. Biodiversity matters in the vineyards: wildflower meadows have been sown and old English oaks have been kept between the vineyards.

In the cellar, whole bunches are pressed gently so that only the best juice is used. The sparkling wines undergo their second fermentation in bottle and then age for a long time on their lees. Gusbourne combines age-old techniques with modern equipment and describes its style as a bridge between the Old and New World of wine.

The range consists mainly of sparkling wines. The Brut Reserve, a blend of the three grapes, is the house's calling card. The Blanc de Blancs is made only from Chardonnay, the Blanc de Noirs from red grapes, and there is also a Rosé. The top wine is Fifty One Degrees North, a prestige cuvée named after the latitude on which the estate lies. Gusbourne also makes still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, showing that the English climate is suitable for still wines too.

Gusbourne has also played an important role in the rise of wine tourism in England. In 2017 the winery opened The Nest, a tasting room overlooking the vineyards. Visitors can take tours and tastings there, and the estate attracts more than ten thousand visitors a year. The wines are poured in leading British restaurants and exported to several countries. We currently have three wines from Gusbourne in our range. You can view all our wines from Gusbourne here.

If you want to know more about this winery, here you will find the link to the website of Gusbourne.