The Crouch Valley in Essex regularly benefits from England’s warmest temperatures and lowest rainfall, and is proving it can be a great hub for winemaking at more than one address. Just outside Burnham-on-Crouch, the Althorne Estate vineyard was for many years an apple orchard, but in 2017 it was planted to vines. On a south-facing slope looking down to the River Crouch, on clay soils, and with a warm micro-climate, the site seemed to cry out for vines. Althorne now have Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris here. Their first vintage was 2019. Winemaker Louise Brown learned her craft in the US working at Williams Selyem, Rochioli and DuMol, and says she aspires to reach the same level as those great estates at Althorne. Although the original intention at Althorne was to focus solely on English sparkling wine, it soon became clear to Louise that the quality of their grapes would also allow them to make great still wines. (NT 02/04/26)
