The Library Collection Explained

Tell us about Wiston’s Library Collection

When we started making our wines at our first harvest in 2008, we really didn’t know how they would evolve and age. The unique thing about sparkling wines made by method champenoise is that they really do require patience and time. As wine producers we have to stand back and allow the wines to take their time in ageing and maturing.

Over the course of the years, when we have had particularly good harvests or a wine which surprised us, we kept a number of bottles back to see how the wine would develop if aged further. So far the results have simply been seriously exciting. Particularly with wines which have been aged on their ‘lees’ – the yeast which originally fermented them. The longer the wines age ‘on lees’ the more intense and complex the flavours and aromas that develop. Our Library Collection Blanc de Blancs 2010 has just scooped the Trophy at the International Wine Challenge – which is such a testament to what the vines can do here in Sussex.

So what is the latest release?
This year we are releasing a parcel from our second ever harvest – 2009 – which we kept back to see how the wine would age. The bottles rested on lees until the end of 2023 – so the wine has had a seriously long time to age in bottle and take on autolytic characters (the wonderful toasty / brioche / biscuity notes is has). It is particularly special as it is the single vineyard blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from our original vineyard – so a real snapshot of Wiston and what the grapes grown here can produce.

Is it ready to drink now?
Yes! We tasted it throughout the years, like we do with all our wines which are ageing in the cellars to assess their development, and we often joked we would never release it! But yes, it is tasting just stunning – we are really excited about it

How would you serve it?
I’d go for a tulip shaped flute or normal white wine glass – to give the liquid room to breathe. It is quite rich and intense – you could easily drink it by itself as an indulgent aperitif, but also it works really well with smoked fish or Sussex cheeses.

Will it age any longer?
It will certainly keep if stored properly for a number more years. The toasty notes will probably intensify and get richer. To store it we always recommend keeping bottles horizontally (this stops the cork drying out, (which can negatively impact the wine, and make them really hard to extract!), and somewhere ideally dark and with a fairly constant temperature (fluctuating temperatures can also damage the wine).

Do you have a plan to open any soon?
Rick and I celebrated our 20^th wedding anniversary on 5^th June this year and so are allowing ourselves a month of treats. Opening this with a few of our closest friends feels like the very best kind of treat  – it was as if the wine knew this was the year and the month to be ready!

Click here to learn more about the Library Collection 2009 Cuvée…