Simpsons’ Wine Estate creates fine English sparkling wines, which reflect the exquisite characteristics of their iconic, chalk terroir in the North Downs of Kent.
This is the 4th vintage of this exceptionally popular English Chardonnay, which has bowled over critics and wine lovers alike. Made from exclusively estate-grown grapes, the Gravel Castle Chardonnay is a zesty, fruit-driven and unoaked Chardonnay, created from Burgundian still wine clones. It displays fresh, citrus aromas, refreshing tropical fruit flavours and a smooth, textured palate.
Simpsons Wine Estate is situated in the Elham Valley; an unspoilt seam in the North Downs of Kent where the contours of the land, the climate and the soil are excellent for viticulture. The intensely lime-rich chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England through Champagne and on to Burgundy. The grapes come from the Roman Road vineyard, named after the route the Romans first marched when invading England in AD 43. They are grown on south-facing slopes, ensuring heat accumulation in the day and cold air drainage at night. The vineyard is less than eight miles from the coast, providing a crucial maritime influence insulating the fruit against intense temperature variations.