English Wine Gusbourne IWSC 2015

Let's face it—English wine is hardly considered on par with the world’s finest vintages. Of course, there are exceptions like Camel Valley and Knightor, and it's time to add Gusbourne Estate to that list. Gusbourne recently made history at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2015.

For the first time, all six of their wines were awarded either Gold or Silver medals, demonstrating how much they’ve progressed since their inception just a few years ago. Even more impressively, Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs won a "Gold Outstanding" medal—the highest honour that can be given by the judges. This makes Gusbourne the only English wine producer to hold this prestigious award from the IWSC.

Ewan Lacey, General Manager of the IWSC, praised Gusbourne's achievements: "Our judges have been really impressed by the consistent high standard of wines produced by winemaker Charlie Holland and the Gusbourne team in Kent. The results speak for themselves—Gusbourne is producing world-class wines as judged by our international panel."

The original Gusbourne Estate in Kent dates back to 1410. In 2004, Andrew Weeber took over the estate with a clear vision and a single goal: to create English sparkling wines that could stand alongside the finest offerings from around the world. That same year, the first vines were planted.

In 2010, the debut vintages of Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2006 and Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2006 were released to critical acclaim. Gusbourne quickly established itself as a producer of exceptional quality wines, earning accolades from some of the industry’s most discerning critics.

Today, Gusbourne has 40.1 hectares in Kent and 21.9 hectares in West Sussex, planted with the classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Their head winemaker, Charlie Holland, honed his skills in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the USA before taking the helm. With numerous international awards under his belt, Charlie has crafted some of the most celebrated sparkling wines in the UK and beyond—his standout creation being Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2010.

Gusbourne describes their flagship sparkling wine as: "A bright golden colour with a delicate mousse, this Blanc de Blancs has classic Chardonnay aromas of green apple, citrus, and mineral notes combined with buttered toast and tarte tatin richness from extended lees ageing. The palate is well-balanced with a streak of zesty acidity complementing a gentle mousse that gives way to a creamy, hazelnut, and baked apple. Drinking very well now, it will continue to develop over the next two or three years. This wine is a great accompaniment to seafood in general but is perfect with freshly shucked oysters."