In the spirit of Valentine’s, we thought it only fitting to write a love letter of our own - to one of our favourite wineries, Sandridge Barton.
Sandridge Barton has been a pioneer of quality English wine for 40 years. First planting vines in the early 1980s and creating wine under the label ‘Sharpham’. The first wines released under the Sharpham label were a standout from the other German styles being released by existing wineries using Madeline Angevine - a French grape variety which does well in Devon soil and boasts floral and citrussy notes. A statement of identity back then that Sandridge Barton (Sharpham) was unique in their market, doing things their own way, and continue to do so.
Recently, they have moved approximately 3km down the River Dart to the Sandridge Barton estate, where they have adopted the name, but still hold on to the legacy created at the Sharpham site. Prior to the relocation, Sharpham were already buying grapes from the Sandridge Barton estate, making this a no-brainer - why wouldn’t they do it all in one place?
So, they built a state of the art winery and in 2020 the first harvest was complete. By 2022 the visitors centre was opened, finalising the move.
Sandridge Barton churns out excellent minds in the world of English wine, starting with Duncan Schwab, who joined in the 1990s and is now the CEO and previous head winemaker, has built up a strong reputation with his team of creating incredible still and sparkling wines, showing off the unique terroir and climate of the South West of England.
Then we have Charlie Brown, who has taken over as head winemaker. He joins us every year during our English Wine Week tasting, and listening to him speak about the wines is a true delight and not to be missed.
And finally, not forgetting Tommy Grimshaw, a previous assistant winemaker, who has gone on to be head winemaker at Langham Winery.
Boasting 32 acres of planted vines, the Sandridge Barton team harvest over 80 tonnes of fruit each year to create their range of fantastic wines. Sandridge Barton are one of only a few producers in England to have their own, on-site winery at their estate which allows them to have complete creative control over the quality and style of wines they produce.
Their sustainability practices are truly something incredible to note - Sandridge Barton rely on the use of solar panels for power, and harvest rain water for their supply. They do not use herbicides or pesticides and they protect native plants and wildlife in their area.
The winery also relies on spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. These are yeasts found growing on the skins of the grapes and within the vineyard in general. The act of using wild yeasts really demonstrates the true expression of the fruit and the region, as everything comes from one place and in turn, supports the biodiversity of the vineyard. Wild yeast fermentation creates a very special sip of one particular place, and the team at Sandridge Barton has nailed it.
There are different ranges in their selection, appealing to all different budgets, palates and preferences. The main range contains the clean, fresh styles of wines, like the Dart Valley reserve, or their single varietal Pinot Noir. These wines showcase certain single varietal wines for their very best qualities, showing what they can do in Devonian soils, whilst championing traditional winemaking with their own little twists.
Then, we come on to the ‘Don’t Feed The Ponies’ range, where each bottle sale sees the donation of 25p to the Dartmoor Preservation Association. This range is a more experimental, natural approach to winemaking. You will find skin contact (or orange wines), unfiltered wines, and a more innovative approach. Here, we see a nod to the rise of the new generation of winemakers and although in some ranges we step away from tradition, Sandridge Barton really does have something for everyone within their ranges whilst encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones and try something new!
Here at Le Vignoble, we are proud to stock several wines from Sandridge Barton’s different ranges. We have ‘Sandridge Barton Pinot Noir 2022’ - a beautifully fresh and fun Pinot, displaying a bouquet of bright, tart red fruits, good freshness and a light body. We love to show off things that you won’t usually find elsewhere, such as some wines from the ‘Don’t Feed The Ponies’ range – Furze, Tipley Hill, and Figgie Daniel.
All of these wines are fun and delicious, but for me, the Furze is an absolute favourite. It is made up of 60% Pinot Gris which undergoes 2-3 weeks of skin-contact, extracting colour, tannin and more complex notes of stone fruits and citrus, complemented by 40% Madeline Angevine, also with the same amount of skin-contact, adding those floral, fresh notes that we discussed earlier. Matured in old French oak, which smoothes out those edges and provides subtle oxidation and spice, for 2 years. A very interesting step in the winemaking is the use of flor (a layer of yeast that forms during maturation, common in sherry production), during the oak maturation - which adds a nutty, saline character. The resulting wine boasts aromas of baked apple, bruised apricot and nuts. The palate replicates the nose, with subtle tannin from the skin contact with an incredibly long finish – the sign of a top-quality wine!
A fantastic winery, paving the way for quality wines in the UK - wines that we love to stock at Le Vignoble - and the first to come to mind when we were deciding who to write our love letter to!
See our Sandridge Barton range here.
Written by Jack Baker