Taste our 2023 vintage wines at Walsingham Farms Shop
t W a l s i n g h a m F a r m s S h o p
Do come and taste our 2023 vintage wines at Walsingham Farms Shop on Saturday 29th November, from 11am to 1:30pm. Sophia will be pouring from 11am to 12pm, and Clovis from 12pm to 1:30pm.
This is an opportunity to try the full range of Walsingham Estate wines, ask questions about the vineyard and winemaking, and discover what the Stiffkey Valley produced in 2023.
What You’ll Taste
The 2023 vintage earned recognition from some of the most respected names in wine criticism. Jane MacQuitty featured our Pinot Noir as her top English red pick in The Times, describing “vibrant, jolly, red plum fruit.” Both our Bacchus Reserve and Pinot Noir won Bronze medals at the WineGB Awards.
At the tasting, you’ll have the chance to try:
- Solaris 2023: Elegant floral notes with citrus and stone fruit character. Aged on lees for two months in stainless steel.
- Bacchus 2023: Classic aromatic elderflower and green apple with lemon zest. Crisp and easy-drinking. Hand harvested from mid-season parcels.
- Bacchus Reserve 2023: Bronze medal, WineGB Awards. Made from our ripest parcel, the last Bacchus we harvested. Distinctive gooseberry and elderflower aromatics with herbal complexity.
- Pinot Noir 2023: Jane MacQuitty’s top English red pick in The Times. Wild fermented in stainless steel with 14 days on skins. Bright cherry red fruit with fine tannins and balanced acidity.
- Sparkling Bacchus Brut 2023: Traditional Method. Refreshing apple, gooseberry and elderflower with a smooth, clean finish. Made the same way as Champagne, with second fermentation in bottle.
- Sparkling Bacchus Demi-Sec 2023: Traditional Method. Norfolk’s only Sparkling Bacchus in Demi-Sec style. Ripe stone fruit, elderflower and gooseberry with subtle biscuity notes. Off-dry and elegant.
About the Stiffkey Valley
Our vineyard lies in the Stiffkey Valley, just south of the historic pilgrimage village of Walsingham in North Norfolk. The site sits on gentle south-facing slopes with free-draining soil studded with flint, underlaid with chalk, the same seam that runs through south-eastern England to Champagne, Chablis and Burgundy.
We planted our first vines in April 2019, choosing three varieties matched to our terroir: Bacchus, Solaris, and Pinot Noir. Each responds differently to the Stiffkey Valley’s conditions, the chalk and flint soils, Norfolk’s dry climate, extended sunshine hours, and maritime moderation from the nearby North Norfolk coast.
The 2023 vintage was our first to receive significant critical recognition. Each vintage teaches us something new about the vineyard.
Our Winemaking Approach
Our winemaking philosophy is straightforward: let the fruit speak. We work with leading UK wine facilities. In 2023 we worked with Burn Valley for our still wines and Halfpenny Green for traditional method sparkling production.
The white wines underwent no malolactic conversion and saw no oak ageing. We fermented and aged them in stainless steel to preserve the aromatic character and fresh fruit that defines Bacchus and Solaris. The Pinot Noir is wild fermented in stainless steel with no oak, relying on native yeasts rather than commercial cultures.
Ask Questions
Both Sophia and Clovis will be there throughout to answer questions about the vineyard, the winemaking and the 2023 vintage.
Ask why we chose these varieties, how traditional method sparkling differs from other methods, or what wild fermentation actually means. Or just ask which wine goes with your Christmas dinner.
If you’ve been following the vineyard since we planted in 2019, this is a chance to taste how 2023 turned out.
Details
When: Saturday 29th November, 11am to 1:30pm
Where: Walsingham Farms Shop, Guild Street, Little Walsingham, NR22 6BU
Who: Sophia Williams from 11am, Clovis Meath Baker from 12pm
Booking: No booking required, simply drop in during the tasting hours
Cost: Free tasting
The full range of wines will be available to purchase at the farm shop during and after the tasting. This is an ideal opportunity to select wines for Christmas, whether for your own table or as gifts.