Chardonnay

Local goat cheeses, dressed crab, poached fish, seafood pastas

Chardonnay grapes suitable for still wine is one of the most elusive varieties in the UK. Working with two vineyards we may just have found the solution – one site near Petworth, West Sussex which has very sandy soil resulting in low-yielding, highly aromatic ripe fruit. The second site, just 30 minutes away, was in West Marden, West Sussex which has a loamy flint-rich soil which produced lively acidity, citrus and green apple purity.

The wine was aged for 7 months in neutral oak barrels bought second-hand from Romaric of Domaine Chavy-Chouet.

Once in the cellar, the grapes were foot stomped in the press and given around 1 hour of maceration to extract flavour and texture from the skins. The wine was gently pressed and fermented with classic Burgundian yeast in neutral oak barrels. Full malolactic fermentation then took place to help build mouth feel and naturally soften the wine’s acidity.

Tucked away down a little alleyway in SW6, the London Cru Winery is based in an old Victorian warehouse which was once a gin distillery. Whilst our surroundings are historic, innovation is at our core and we house precision temperature-controlled tanks and state-of-the-art winemaking facilities. London Cru is owned by Cliff Roberson and was the first urban winery in London opening in 2013. Since our launch, many of the London Cru wines have won prestigious WineGB and IWC awards and are listed in numerous Michelin star restaurants in London and beyond. We have shown the world that quality wines can be made right here in the Capital! As part of our new vision for London Cru, since 2017 our grapes have been exclusively sourced from English vineyards. We are excited about the future of English wines and love being the London heart of this movement. In the coming years, London Cru will continue to demystify wine and bring excitement to the London wine scene.