Chapel Down is known for its award-winning English wine, but the Kent-based vineyard has just tapped into the gin craze.
The winery has extended its drinks offering by launching what it believes to be the first ever pinot noir gin. It's produced using the skins of the same grapes grown to make Chapel Down's sparkling wine, which are blended with wheat spirit to make an aromatic spirit.
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The brand's head winemaker, Josh Donaghay-Spire, says the new gin is infused with the characteristics of pinot noir, including juniper, coriander, dried red berries, rose buds, citrus fruits, rosehip, angelica and grains of paradise.
'The result is an aromatic pink gin with delicate aromas of red berries which perfectly balance the juniper led palate and refreshing citrus finish,' he adds.
Chapel Down's gin follows the launch of its bacchus gin and chardonnay vodka in November 2017. The winery hit headlines back in 2016 when it picked up 18 medals at the International Wine Awards. Last year, its single vineyard estate Kit’s Coty triumphed at the 2018 International Wine & Spirits Competition, winning Gold Outstanding for the Kit's Coty Coeur de Cuvée 2013 and Blanc de Blanc 2013.
After the addition of new land and last summer's warm weather, Chapel Down recently revealed it has produced a bumper crop. 'This year’s harvest has been exceptional' chief executive, Frazer Thompson, said (via The Guardian) in October 2018.
'It is without peer in the history of the industry and gives us a real opportunity to not only sell more still wines next year, but also put sparkling base wines aside for future growth.'
