Sherborne Castle Wines

Where to obtain the Special Reserve Sherborne Castle white English wine

"The tradition of wine making on the Sherborne Castle Estates started in the Middle Ages when Bishop Roger, who built the Old Castle planted a vineyard on the northern side of the lake. By 1146 this was sufficiently mature to be mentioned in the bull of Eugenius II.

In 1982, the tradition was revived on the estate by John Wingfield Digby at Wake Court in Bishops Caundle. The vineyard has three hectares of vines on a south facing slope with soil types of limestone loam over clay. The vines are planted on a wide high wire system known as Geneva Double Curtain that gives a smaller number of vines per hectare. This gives a better exposure to the light which is very important to fruiting.

The Wake Court Vineyard is a perfect example of an English vineyard producing fine wines. The Special Reserve is a blend of four grape varieties. In addition two traditional method sparkling wines are made and matured, a white and a rosé. There is also a wine Brandy aged in oak produced from the wine of the Seyval grape.

On average 15,000 bottles are produced each year. The varieties grown are Bacchus, Leon Millot, Pinot Noir, Regner, Reichensteiner, Schonburger and Seyval Blanc.

Once the grapes have been harvested the wine is produced by a contract wine maker, Steve Brooksbank, of the Bagborough Vineyard, Pylle, Shepton Mallet who uses the latest technology and equipment, including stainless steel vats that ensure a clean fruity wine".