MoonBeams #9: Grapes on Grain - Tinwood Estate

Duration: 56 minutesArt Tukker is a rising star of British wine. In this sparkling conversation he shares the excitement of creating a vineyard and wine making whilst turning his tastebuds to wine cask finished whiskies.  Tinwood Estate is on the Chichester Plain in West Sussex, arguably the most important wine producing area in the UK with the neighbouring county of East Sussex. The first vines at Tinwood were planted in 2007 and Art is still developing the vineyard this year, 2015. The Visitor Centre looks across to the C12th remains of Boxgrove Priory which has a roof painting of vines, illustrating the long history of viticulture in the area. Tinwood sparkling wines are the Estate Brut, a Blanc de Blanc and a Rosé. The vineyard enjoys a well established association with Ridgeview in East Sussex. We tasted the Blanc de Blancs and the Rosé.  Jody's experiments with recycling bottles include candles on sale at the Vineyard Tasting Room - and by chance she had experimented with the glass cutting on a Glenmorangie bottle too! The whiskies that Art and I tasted were:The Haig Club singe grain whisky, from Diageo in association with David Beckham. About £45.Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or a 12yo Coastal Highland whisky finished in Sauternes casks. About £51.The Dalmore Cigar Malt, another Highland whisky but this time finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. About £68.Glendronach The Revival 15yo, finished in Olorosso sherry barrels. About £45. This was TWE's Whisky of the Year 2014-15.Specialist bottle shops have good selections of whiskies as do some wine merchants. However, the fullest choice os often on-line and I buy many of my whiskies from The Whisky Exchange, TWE, who offer a very good selection and service.