Oastbrook Estate Vineyard

Oastbrook is situated on what was an old Guinness hop farm and the name comes from the brook that runs past the old Oasthouse where the hops used to be dried. The vineyards are in the Rother Valley on a gentle slope not far from Bodiam castle on soils of clay, sand and silt mix over a sandstone ridge. The valley benefits from hot and dry summers allowing the full ripening of Oastbrook's grapes which allows earlier ripening and allows us leave the grapes to hang on the vines longer than many other locations.

Everything for America and Nick starts with soil health which guarantees them fresh healthy grapes. They practice minimal intervention and focus on preventative care. and living on site, every day they can see walking through the vines what they need. The vineyard is incredibly biodiverse. They have varied cover crops, but clover predominates and that is the favourite food of our bees who are tended to by America who produces and sells her honey on site at Oastbrook. Most of our wines are single grape varietals and we look to allow the grape characteristics from the terroir and the specific vintage to express themselves fully in the wines. In 2016 they travelled to France and brought back Burgundian Chardonnay clones and Alsatian Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc with the specific aim of making white wines. The Alsatian clones with their richness pair very well with the higher acidity that we find in the UK. The Chardonnay is the antithesis of the heavily oaked new world style with its crisp chalky acidity and pure expression of fruit. Nick and America planted Pinot Meunier for sparkling wine but on a whim decided to make a white wine with it, the result speaks for itself.