Draft:Gusbourne

Gusbourne is an English sparkling wine producer, based in Appledore, Kent. Along with producers such as Chapel Down and Taittinger's Domaine Evremond, it is part of the Wine Garden of England. Founded in 2004, Gusbourne released its first vintage of English sparkling wine in 2006. The estate has 90 hectares under vine. In Kent, it owns 60 hectares of vineyards, planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. In West Sussex it has 30 hectares of vineyards. Gusbourne is available in more than 30 countries worldwide. In 2024, it was recognised with The King's Awards for Enterprise. Gusbourne only makes vintage wine.

History

Gusbourne takes its name from the "de Goosebourne" estate, which was founded in 1410 by landowner John de Goosebourne. The original de Goosebourne family crest, which features three flying geese, is on display at St Mary's Church, Appledore. The history of the estate as an English winery began in 2004, when South African surgeon Andrew Weeber bought the land and planted the first vines. In 2013, Lord Ashcroft acquired a majority share in the company. In July 2024, The Grocer reported that Lord Ashcroft was considering options for Gusbourne, including a possible sale.

Vineyards

In Kent, Gusbourne's vineyards are located on the Appledore escarpment, bisected by the Saxon Shore Way, a long-distance footpath which traces Southern England's historic coastline. The soils here are Wealden Clay and Tunbridge Wells Sand. The vineyards are planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes. Around half of the clones are Burgundian, which give a lower yield than Champagne clones.

The West Sussex vineyards were brought under Gusbourne's management in 2013. The vineyard soils are predominantly chalk and flint - a geology shared with France's Paris Basin. In English wine, chalk soils are often cited as a reason for the fledgling industry's success.

Viticulture

Gusbourne uses regenerative agriculture techniques. Romney sheep are brought into the vineyards to graze between the vines in the winter months. This practice naturally reduces weed growth and fertilises the land. Gusbourne is involved in cover crop trials with InnovateUK, researching which species can best fix nitrogen and promote biodiversity in the vineyard. Gusbourne practices no-till farming, a technique increasingly favoured in small-scale viticulture to promote soil health and improve the microbiome.

Viniculture

Head winemaker Mary Bridges was appointed in 2023, replacing winemaker and CEO Charlie Holland (now at Jackson Family Wines). Gusbourne's winemaking is low-intervention, an approach favoured by grower Champagnes. Its sparkling wines are made using the traditional method, first developed in France's Champagne region. Gusbourne also produces still wines, including a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Pinot Meunier and a sweet wine, RS180. The sweet wine takes its name from the amount of residual sugar in it.

Wines

Gusbourne produces both still and sparkling wines. Its sparkling Blanc de Blancs was used by the Royal Collection to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. In 2022, Decanter reported that Gusbourne had released one of England's most expensive wines. The bottling, Fifty One Degrees North, was named as one of the 18 Best Wines by the Robb Report.

Awards

In 2024, Gusbourne was named in the Top 50 in the World's Best Vineyards. It has received wine awards from the International Wine and Spirits Competition, Texsom and the International Wine Challenge. In 2024, Gusbourne won national trophies for its Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2019 and its still red wine, Gusbourne Pinot Noir 2022.