urban winery Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

Wine of the Month: A wine produced in Cambridge from grapes grown in Essex

Gutter & Stars, Strange News from Another Star, Bacchus 2021 (Cambridge)

This is an outstanding Bacchus wine from Gutter & Stars urban winery in Cambridge. Produced from grapes grown in the Crouch Valley in Essex, the wine was awarded ‘Bacchus of the Year’ last year. And deservedly so.

A refreshing, crisp wine with aromas of jasmine, apple and citrus fruits on the nose, and green apple with subtle hints of peach and minerality on the palate. This is a well-balanced wine which can be enjoyed by itself, with seafood, white meat, a vegetable dish or light risotto.

Available from Gutter & Stars and Grape Britannia (£22-£24)

Can England produce a cracking Pinot Noir? You bet!

Gutter & Stars, Hope is a Good Swimmer, Pinot Noir 2020

Chris Wilson, who established Gutter & Stars, the UK’s newest urban winery in Cambridge in 2020, produced the winery’s first Bacchus wine earlier this year and it was a great success. Since then, I have been looking forward to the release of their first Pinot Noir and now that I’ve been able to try it, I can definitely say that it was well worth the wait. It’s brilliant!

Made from grapes grown in Crouch Valley, Essex, this is a smooth, refreshing wine with prominent cherry and raspberry aromas on the nose, and fresh red fruit flavours, and a hint of peppery spice, on the palate. Light in colour, with medium acidity and medium tannins, this is a very attractive, well-balanced wine that just shows that we can produce a cracking Pinot Noir right here in Blighty!

This is a great debut for Gutter & Stars’ Pinot Noir … and I can’t wait for the Chardonnay due out in the autumn!