October 2022 will be a month to remember for English sommeliers and winemakers; it is the date when Gusbourne, the renowned English winery, launches a prestige singular vintage sparkling wine unlike anything previously produced in England – Fifty One Degrees North. It is from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from the much-lauded 2014 vintage, which was a watershed moment for Gusbourne’s Chief Winemaker and CEO, Charlie Holland, who considered it to be the best he had seen in his career, stating that “The release of Fifty One Degrees North is the next step in our journey towards our goal to create English wines that stand alongside the very finest offerings from across the globe.”
The 2014 harvest took English winemaking to another level, resulting in the creation of this extraordinary wine, arguably the best ever produced by an English winemaker. During its 80 months ageing on lees, Charlie and his team tasted the wine twice yearly to monitor and adjust the profile, eventually settling on 2022 as the optimal time for release. Fifty One Degrees North’s complexity allows it to be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif, with the flavours deserving of a wine-lover's full attention, but also a companion for food, continuing to evolve in the glass as it is enjoyed with your meal.
Available to purchase for £195 from Gusbourne and listed by a number of leading restaurants including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Ynyshir, Moor Hall, Trinity and Four Seasons Hampshire, Fifty One Degrees North is sure to become exclusive and coveted; we too cannot wait to indulge in its extraordinary bouquet.