Michelin-starred restaurant creates bespoke English wines with Denbies

Published: 06 December, 2010

A Michelin-starred Surrey restaurant has joined forces with Denbies Wine Estate to produce a bespoke collection of English wines to match the menu.

A Michelin-starred Surrey restaurant has joined forces with Denbies Wine Estate to produce a bespoke collection of English wines to match the menu.

The Bingham, in Richmond upon Thames began talking to Denbies about a collaboration in summer 2010, and have now created three wines.

The collection includes a "light everyday drinking white wine" made of a blend including Müller-Thurgau and Ortega; a more complex white blend of Chardonnay and Bacchus which will be matured in oak barrels and released early summer 2011, and a 100% Pinot Noir, available from autumn 2011.

Samantha Trinder, proprietor of the Bingham, said working with Denbies was "a natural progression", given the restaurant's focus on local produce.

"In most other parts of Europe it would be seen as an omission not to include wine from the local 'terroir'."

Working closely together Brendan Seal, vintage wine maker and viticulturist at Denbies, Bingham's deputy general manager Jean-Michel Thomas has selected three different blends, using six varietals. The as yet unnamed wines will be introduced from early next year.

Thomas said: "It is interesting to see how the reputation and standard of British food has grown in recent years and we were very impressed with the quality of the wines produced by Denbies. Today UK food is world class and English wines, in our opinion, are following closely behind."

Seal said: "The red is a superb example of pure Pinot Noir and one which can certainly give New Zealand competitors a run for their money."

All the wines are produced from single estate grapes grown on chalky soils, in a protected valley with south-facing slopes, in the North Downs.