Category: Home & Gardens

A Vineyard Diary Part 11

Virginia Coates, Head of Events demonstrates local and seasonal food pairing with English sparkling wine from Coates & Seely.

Vineyards and Coronavirus

The story so far: life begins to return to something closer to normality, with the hospitality sector having taken the first early steps towards re-opening, (although crowd-related ‘events’ remain prohibited).  Meanwhile, we have completed the first curated tours of Coates & Seely on ‘Albion’, our 1952 vintage coach…

In addition to a curated guide of the vineyards and winery, with transport provided by ‘Albion’, our tour-guests are also treated to food matching – with canapés made from our own ingredients or those of our neighbours – followed by lunch outside under Indian Mughal tents. 

Virginia’s culinary skills at this point play a leading role, proving that the chalk soils of North Hampshire not only provide outstanding fruit for the production of English sparkling wine, but also the perfect ingredients for food pairings with our wines.

Food pairing with English Sparkling Wine

England has no food and wine ’vernacular’, in the way that French or Italian wine regions, for instance, have developed – sometimes over centuries – local food dishes that perfectly match the local wines, but we have made an exciting start at Coates & Seely, knowing that no wine is ever entirely complete without matching food and the deep pleasure of accompanying friendship.

Here is Virginia at work.

A Vineyard Diary Part 10

Coates & Seely launch the private tours of their Hampshire vineyard and winery including sparkling wine tasting and food pairing lunch.

Vineyards and Coronavirus

The story so far: after battles with disappearing workforces, collapsing markets, devilish frosts and government fug, are we seeing the early glimpses of a return to a previous life?

Hampshire Vineyard Private Tour lunch under Indian Mughal Tent

In anticipation of the re-opening of the hospitality sector next week, and in an attempt to make up in some part for the lost, but essential, life pleasures of eating and drinking in beautiful surroundings, we have decided to open our Hampshire gardens and English Sparkling Wine vineyards and offer socially-distanced Private Tours of our vineyards and winery, followed by tastings, food pairings and lunch under Indian Mughul tents.

Given the constraints we are under the tours, filmed below, can only be taken by groups of 8-12 people and are aimed principally at the corporate hospitality sector or perhaps for those special occasions. 

(to be continued….)

The Four Seasons Hampshire

Four Seasons executives from around the world came to Hampshire in May for their annual conference and were treated not only to the 18th century splendour of Dogsmerfield Park, the group’s Hampshire landmark, but to an array of classic British experiences, ranging from hunting packs, croquet duels and classic British vehicles in the form of Coates & Seely’s ‘Albion’.

We are proud of our listings at the Four Seasons, and particularly at our listing in the wonderful ‘Wild Carrot’ restaurant at Dogmersfiled, and were delighted to represent our country to their group of global executives with our English Sparkling wines and our vintage British coach…

Coates & Seely 2017 Harvest

‘Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness’ was Keats’ description of England at harvest time. Substitute ‘mist’ for Hurricane Ophelia, which was actually passing when this photograph was taken on 16th October as we brought in the last of this year’s chardonnay, and you have an apt description of our own 2017 harvest.

Due to a slow maturation, we left the fruit on the vines for longer than we have ever dared and were rewarded with sensational flavours and complexity. The 2017 vintage will be small but beautiful and you can follow it on our Instagram page in a series of stunning photographs taken by Lara Arnott.

https://www.laraarnott.com/

Brewin Dolphin at the Chelsea and Chatsworth Flower Shows

Coates & Seely were delighted to be asked again by Brewin Dolphin to provide the wines for their client entertainment at both this year’s RHS Chelsea and Chatsworth Flower Shows.

It is always a thrill to be at Chelsea, and this year Brewin Dolphin entertained clients with Coates & Seely’s award-winning sparkling Rosé within the splendours of Christopher Wren’s Royal Hospital, built by Charles II for veterans over 325 years ago and still dispensing accommodation and fellowship to retired British heroes to this day.

The highlight this year was, however, the inaugural Flower Show at Chatsworth – certainly one of the most beautiful houses in England – where the representation of Paxton’s Great Conservatory, built by the fourth Duke of Devonshire in 1841, dominated the skyline, across the river Derwent from the main façade of the house.  The show was full of inspirational gardens and wonderful stalls, but it was the daring, style and innovation of the Great Conservatory, so characteristic of Chatsworth and its illustrious family, that constantly drew the eye.

https://www.brewin.co.uk/

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chatsworth-flower-show

The Brewin Dolphin Garden at The Chelsea Flower Show

Coates & Seely were delighted to be asked by Brewin Dolphin to supply their wines at the Chelsea Flower Show to complement Brewin Dolphin’s sponsorship of a garden designed by multiple Chelsea gold-medal winner Rosy Hardy.

Rosy’s garden was a celebration of Hampshire’s fabled chalk streams, exploring the fragility, beauty and uniqueness of these chalk-fed rivers that have beguiled philosophers, fishermen, botanists and nature-lovers over the centuries.

Coates & Seely’s own chalk-based vineyards are a stone’s throw from Rosy’s wonderful nurseries in Hampshire and are themselves an expression of the beauty and genius of chalk soil.  We were privileged to be asked by Brewin Dolphin to partner Rosy in such a wonderful celebration of Hampshire chalk and all it produces.

https://www.brewin.co.uk/offices/london/news/chelsea-flower-show-2016