Ep 52 Sparkling Winemaking with English winemaker Tommy Grimshaw of Langham Wine Estate

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Today's episode is all about the English sparkling wines that are made by Langham Wine Estate down in Dorset. I am talking with head winemaker Tommy Grimshaw, who is one of the youngest winemakers in the UK. He we educate us all on the winemaking techniques of traditional method sparkling wine (as in Champagne) along with another more quirky winemaking method he has just started: Col Fondo (as in the natural and most traditional wines of Prosecco). We will be looking in detail at disgorgement and dosage and how this affects sparkling wine, along with each of the grape varieties; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

If you want to skip ahead:

2:40 - Langham Wine Estates big acknowledgment with IWSC and how Tommy got to be in the wine world

5:37 - Talking about Emerging Vines Tommy's platform for selling the best English Wine, talking about English Wine and also a space to offer Wine Tastings

7:14 - Talking about Ex Head winemaker Daniel Ham who has now set up Offbeat Wines and his low intervention approach, and tasting the 2 Classic Cuvees.

Wine Tasting:

Corallian NV (based on 2018 vintage) £27.50 https://langhamwine.co.uk/product/corallian/

Culvar NV (based on 2018 vintage) £27.50 

https://langhamwine.co.uk/product/culver/

- Tommy talks about the Chalk strates and different types of chalk soils that run through the vineyard.

17.19: Tommy talks us through the full winemaking process of how to make a traditional method sparkling wine.

20.16: Discussing the disgorgement date and how this affects the wine.

24.18: Discussing Tommy's low intervention approach and his style of winemaking.

27.13: Tommy tells us how he choices the final blend of grapes and how he decides how much reserve wine to add in. 

33.45: Tommy tells us how he choices the amount of dosage (sugar and wine added in at the end) in the wine.

36.50: Learn all about Tommy's latest release - a Col Fondo in Keg!

46.01: Wine Tasting the Rosé

Rosé 2017 £29.90

https://langhamwine.co.uk/product/rose-2017/

51.31: Discussing the three grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - how they are in England Soils and terroir, and what each grape offers to the blend.

55.38: Some of Langham's new wine projects to look out for.

57.26: The two wine regions that have inspired Tommy as a winemaker.

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

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Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Until next time, Cheers to you!