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The art of winemaking (particularly in England with its inclement weather!) echoes the ethos of Sorbet Living – moving with the seasons, taking time and patience to cultivate something special, with an end result bringing people together to celebrate life’s milestones.
So it made perfect sense for our early autumn campaign to be captured at Roebuck Vineyard, an expansive estate close to the village of Tillington overlooking the rolling South Downs. It forms one of six parcels of land owned by Roebuck Estates across West Sussex and Kent, in areas with rich fertile soils ideal for growing exceptional quality fruit.
The twisting vines and lush green fields of Roebuck Vineyard gave a beautiful backdrop to our early autumn shoot and we were lucky enough to try the famous 2018 Rosé de Noirs during our picnic. We chatted to Danielle Whitehead, marketing manager of Roebuck Estates, to find out more about the heritage of the company and why autumn is a special season at the vineyard.
“Our Roebuck vineyard is located close to the pretty village of Tillington to the West of Petworth in West Sussex and has the most magnificent southerly views towards the South Downs.
It is the jewel in our crown and home to our oldest vines. Planted back in 2006, the classic Champagne varietals of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier lead the way here.”
“The terroir at our Roebuck vineyard is near perfect in every way. South facing slopes capture maximum sunlight throughout the day and the wonderful greensand soils encourage drainage and heat retention and produce fruit with incredible complexity and of consistent quality throughout all growing seasons. The clones planted here have a wonderfully expressive fruit profile and give elegance and finesse to our vintage sparkling wines.”
“It is such a wonderful time of year in the vineyard as the grapes begin to change colour – a stage called Veraison, which signifies the start of the ripening period. Harvest is fast approaching, and so the vineyard is a hive of activity as preparation gets underway for what is the most exciting time in the growing season.”
“A perfectly chilled bottle of 2018 Rosé de Noirs is my favourite wine for this time of year. It is bursting with vibrant red fruit notes such as cranberries, raspberries and strawberries, making it the ideal wine to enjoy during the warmer months. It is also super versatile and so it pairs well with both summer picnics and more hearty autumnal dishes.”
“Much like the graceful roe deer that roams our landscape, we aim to leave only the lightest footprint on our wonderful environment. We’re incredibly proud to be a founder member of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) certification scheme. Our experienced viticulture team’s unwavering commitment to sustainable vineyard management has earned us this certification, showcasing our dedication to environmentally responsible practices.
We have embraced numerous sustainable initiatives to help strengthen the natural ecosystem, from introducing beehives, bird houses, insect hotels, and reptile habitats as well as planting wildflower meadows and welcoming a flock of sheep during winter. Through our commitment to biodiversity, we aim to support the ecosystem that sustains our vineyards and the surrounding environment.”
“I absolutely love Autumn as harvest is my favourite time of year, but also, the vineyard is transformed into a breathtaking palette of golden autumnal colours, brilliant blue skies and the sunsets here at our Roebuck vineyard are spectacular, just like our sparkling wines”
A huge thank you to Roebuck Estates for hosting our campaign shoot! The vintage sparkling wines are available to buy through the Roebuck Estates website, and we can offer a 15% discount on orders by using the code Sorbet15 at the checkout.
Images used with approval of Roebuck Estates, dining image Sorbet Living.
By Amy Tarrant.
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