Local Sussex family strikes gold! Richard Esling May 12

But the award of no less than three gold medals to the owners of a local Sussex vineyard in the recent Sommelier Wine Awards competition, the results of which were announced at the beginning of this month. The vineyard is located in East Sussex and is owned and run by husband and wife team Gerard and Jonica Fox.

The boutique brand of Fox and Fox has been producing a range of high-calibre sparkling wines since 2009. All wines are produced with grapes grown exclusively in Sussex. The home vineyard, Hobdens, is currently planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris and is located just outside the beautiful village of Mayfield in East Sussex.

The extensive range of English sparkling wines runs to nine different styles, including an unusual Blanc de Noirs made from Pinot Meunier rather than Pinot Noir, an equally fascinating Blanc de Gris made from Pinot Gris and three different pink styles. The boutique grower-producer has been awarded three gold medals in the 2020 Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA), for its newly launched limited-edition cuvée, C.V. Chairman’s Vat Brut 2014, personally blended by Gerard Fox, its very popular Mosaic Rosé Brut 2015 and the outstanding Meunier Blanc de Noirs Brut 2014.

Although 2020 is the most challenging year the hospitality sector worldwide has ever known due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the SWA is the UK’s only wine competition to focus entirely on wines aimed at the on-trade. Judges include Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine, who all serve or buy wine for venues in the on-trade or are leading consultants in developing wine lists.

All the Fox and Fox wines are single vintage wines. Since the vineyard was planted in Mayfield in 2004, Jonica has adopted a careful and imaginative attitude to viticulture and winemaking, ensuring that each vintage sparkling wine is respectful and reflective of both the season and place. Following his wife’s ethos Gerard, set about creating a wine which would celebrate the magnificent 2014 vintage, creating the Chairman’s Vat 2014. His hope is that his blend will be indulged by consumers who appreciate the nuances of each harvest and who are unafraid to seek out avant-garde sparkling wines. A limited edition of only 1018 bottles, get in quick if you want to find out for yourself just how good this is.

To help us in this time of isolation, the gold medal winning wines are available for free nationwide delivery, Chairman’s Vat Brut 2014, Mosaic Rosé Brut 2015, and Meunier Blanc de noirs Brut, 2014 available to buy direct from Foxand& Fox online at: https://www.foxandfox.wine/shop/cv-chairmans-vat-brut-2014-limited-edition/ . The core range of wines is also distributed to independent wine merchants, high-end restaurants, pubs and bars across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London, plus the South West, by specialist drinks distributor and retailer Amathus Drinks.

With every 2014 vintage wine offered by Fox &andFox having been awarded a gold medal from an authoritative national or international wine competition, including the International Wine and Spirit Competition, it would seem that Gerard and Monica undoubtedly have the Midas touch!