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Provenance

At Simpsons', we believe that the finest wines convey a rich sense of provenance and integrity, firmly rooted in the characteristics and exquisite nuances of their terroir. This is why we settled for nothing less than the finest parcels of land in southern England to plant the vines for Simpsons’ exceptional English wine.

Provenance

At Simpsons', we believe that the finest wines convey a rich sense of provenance and integrity, firmly rooted in the characteristics and exquisite nuances of their terroir. This is why we settled for nothing less than the finest parcels of land in southern England to plant the vines for Simpsons’ exceptional English wine.

A Unique Corner of England

We laid down roots for Simpsons' Wine Estate in 2014 amid the pristine beauty of the Elham Valley – an unspoilt seam in the North Downs of Kent where the contours of the land, the climate and the soil could scarcely be improved upon for viticulture.

Occupying glorious positions on the sunny, sheltered slopes of the picturesque village of Barham, our vineyards are protected from the whimsy of the English climate by ancient woodland and anchored in the iconic chalky soils that are so highly revered in the world of both still and sparkling wine.

Located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the vineyards set an alluring scene, looking out over gently undulating English countryside towards the distinctive copper-green spire of the village Church.

We planted the first 10 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir on our estate in 2014. This is our Roman Road Vineyard, situated alongside the route the Romans first marched when invading England in AD 43, bringing with them the first vines. A further 20 hectares of the same three grape varieties were established on the southern slopes of the village during 2016 and 2017. This is our Railway Hill Vineyard, so called because the Canterbury to Folkestone light railway passed through this site in the late 19th and first half of the 20th Century.

Chalk Soil

Our intensely lime-rich chalk soil, forming part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England to the French Champagne region and on to Burgundy, is without doubt the most desirable for the cultivation of the time-honoured trio of grapes renowned for producing the world’s finest still and sparkling wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

We have seen on our wine estate in France (Domaine Sainte Rose) how the most striking results in viticulture come from farming on the limits – providing the vines with just enough of what they need to survive but never too much. The contrary forces of a chalk soil support this task perfectly: it is free draining yet able to absorb water, protecting the vines from thirst even in the driest of periods.

Chalk Soil

Our intensely lime-rich chalk soil, forming part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England to the French Champagne region and on to Burgundy, is without doubt the most desirable for the cultivation of the time-honoured trio of grapes renowned for producing the world’s finest still and sparkling wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

We have seen on our wine estate in France (Domaine Sainte Rose) how the most striking results in viticulture come from farming on the limits – providing the vines with just enough of what they need to survive but never too much. The contrary forces of a chalk soil support this task perfectly: it is free draining yet able to absorb water, protecting the vines from thirst even in the driest of periods.

Our Micro-Climate

The English climate may be marginal for viticulture but its relative austerity – where expertly handled - is ideally suited to creating still and sparkling wines with pure varietal flavours, elegant acidity and subtly sophisticated aromas, thanks to a long, cool ripening period.

Simpsons' Wine Estate is located in one of the sunniest corners of the British Isles, and we have further safeguarded our vines against extremes in climate by selecting sloping vineyards that face almost due south, ensuring heat accumulation in the day, and excellent cold air drainage at night. The maritime influence is also crucial to the success of our vines: we are less than eight miles from the coast on three sides, which helps insulate our fruit against intense variations in temperature.

Sustainability

In line with the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification scheme, our objectives in the vineyard are to maintain and improve soil health, to conserve the vineyard environment and promote biodiversity, to reduce pesticide and fertiliser inputs and to reduce our carbon footprint per hectare.

This shared undertaking to secure environmental sustainability at the heart of UK wine production continues into our winery, where we are working to reduce our water and non-renewable energy consumption. In 2021 we successfully achieved one of these goals with the installation of a 30kw solar PV array, which at optimum production, covers all normal office and winery functionality.

We also subscribe to the Walpole Sustainability Manifesto, which in addition to its pledges to safeguard the environment and natural resources, also promotes the transition towards a circular economy and encourages businesses to work with ‘responsible’ suppliers who can provide traceability across their supply chain. We apply these principles to all product development, with particular emphasis on packaging recyclability.

Our Micro-Climate

Read more

The English climate may be marginal for viticulture but its relative austerity – where expertly handled - is ideally suited to creating still and sparkling wines with pure varietal flavours, elegant acidity and subtly sophisticated aromas, thanks to a long, cool ripening period.

Simpsons' Wine Estate is located in one of the sunniest corners of the British Isles, and we have further safeguarded our vines against extremes in climate by selecting sloping vineyards that face almost due south, ensuring heat accumulation in the day, and excellent cold air drainage at night. The maritime influence is also crucial to the success of our vines: we are less than eight miles from the coast on three sides, which helps insulate our fruit against intense variations in temperature.

Sustainability

Read more

In line with the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification scheme, our objectives in the vineyard are to maintain and improve soil health, to conserve the vineyard environment and promote biodiversity, to reduce pesticide and fertiliser inputs and to reduce our carbon footprint per hectare.

This shared undertaking to secure environmental sustainability at the heart of UK wine production continues into our winery, where we are working to reduce our water and non-renewable energy consumption. In 2021 we successfully achieved one of these goals with the installation of a 30kw solar PV array, which at optimum production, covers all normal office and winery functionality.

We also subscribe to the Walpole Sustainability Manifesto, which in addition to its pledges to safeguard the environment and natural resources, also promotes the transition towards a circular economy and encourages businesses to work with ‘responsible’ suppliers who can provide traceability across their supply chain. We apply these principles to all product development, with particular emphasis on packaging recyclability.

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