2016 Cuvee South Downs

Wiston Estate’s 2017 Cuvée has a filigree texture that retains our signature precision and elegance. A cacophony of nectarines, honey and brioche make this a real treat to sip away an evening with. Its opulent style and focus allows for a gastronomic adventure too.

Despite a warmer than average March, the 2017 growing season will forever be remembered for the fierce late spring frosts in April and May, which caused significant damage to many of our peers’ buds. However, our Findon Park vineyard tends to bud later than most and the steeper slopes mean that ground frosts tend to roll away from the vines. As a result we luckily only lost a couple of our Chardonnay vines to frost damage in 2017. A much-welcomed warm June and a mostly dry late summer/autumn resulted in good sugar and acidity levels at harvest, which started on 29th September and was finished by 17th October. Although 2017 was an unusual year, it was characterised by a very good, ripe crop with lower yields.