导读 葡萄酒贸易资深人士 Cliff Roberson 自2013年起,以London Cru的名义,为游客提供了一次亲临酿酒现场的独特体验。位于伦敦一区,伯爵宫和斯坦福桥体育场之间,这家城市酒庄之前通过与各地种植者建立合作关系,采购所有所需葡萄。然而,在收购位于距离其南部约50英里的Foxhole葡萄园后,London Cru将能够直接掌控其水果质量。
占地12公顷的Foxhole葡萄园毗邻著名的西萨塞克斯博尔尼庄园(Bolney Estate),享受着南丘陵(South Downs)的壮丽景色。这片土地上共有20,000棵葡萄藤,其中以黑皮诺和灰皮诺为主,同时也种植了一小部分白皮诺,并且主要分布在朝向阳光方向的山坡上。这些葡萄藤自2008/09年开始种植至今已完全成熟。
博尔尼庄园(Bolney Estate)曾经购买了这片土地并生产过一款散兵坑干型珍藏级别的Sparkling Wine——Foxhole Vineyard Brut Reserve。不过,关于该葡萄园被London Cru以69万英镑指导价出售的事实,并没有具体透露出具体价格信息。此外,该公司目前还未对此次收购行动做出公开声明。
伦敦酒庄的酿酒师Alex Hurley 表示:“不同于英国大多数生产商,我们专注于制作静止性质的高品质葡萄酒。”他解释道,即便英国各地都有许多种植者,但很少有人真正专注于静止性质的产品。而这次Foxhole Vineyard对于London Cru而言,是一个标志性的项目,它旨在通过控制每个阶段来提升英国静止性质葡萄酒质量和风格。
Alex Hurley himself is a professional winemaker with extensive experience. He began his career at the Yering Station in Melbourne, Australia before moving to France and working in several renowned wine estates including Château Margaux and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Prior to joining London Cru, he worked at Gascoyne Vineyards in Kent.
Cliff Roberson, on the other hand, is a well-known figure in the wine trade who co-founded London Cru with a business partner but now owns it solo. The company started producing wines in 2013 and currently focuses solely on British wines including Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pétillant Naturel (Pét-Nat), as well as Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine and Rosé Sparkling Wine.