Pinot Gris 2023 – Stopham Estate

The grapes to produce the Pinot Gris Stopham Estate were pressed directly on entering the winery and there was no skin contact. They were fermented in stainless-steel tanks under strict temperature control. Fermentation was stopped prematurely to obtain the perfect level of sweetness. As expected from highly aromatic varieties, there was no malolactic fermentation. Storage was on the fine lees until early summer. The wine is closed with Stelvin Luxe Plus to preserve the impeccable purity of fruit.

The main challenges in the vineyard are deer, which roam the parkland (meaning Simon’s first job was to fence the vineyard to protect the vines from damage) and, unsurprisingly, the weather. Simon practises sustainable farming. This is helped by the south-facing vineyards, which maximise sun exposure and ripening, and the proximity of the Stopham farm animals, which provide copious amounts of organic fertiliser to boost the sandy soils. Grapes were harvested by hand.

“Precision, Passion, Craft and Sustainability” is the apt motto of Simon Woodhead’s, Stopham Estate. Having begun his career as an engineer, designing parts for Formula One racing cars, Simon discovered a passion for wine while living in Spain and in 2005 he enrolled at Plumpton College to study winemaking. In 2007 Simon planted six hectares of vines, predominantly Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, at Stopham Estate, near Pulborough West Sussex. The estate is known locally for its ancient buildings that were recorded in the Domesday Book, as well as the swans that swim the River Arun, the banks of which form the lower boundary to the vineyards. Their small winery is in a converted barn on the estate that Simon leases from the owners, the Barttelot family.