A collaberational event between The South Lodge Hotel in rural Horsham/Mid-Sussex, Carr Taylor (award winning English Vineyards) and Ben Furst of English Vine Tours.

The award winning chefs of South Lodge, in-conjunction with hotel manager Rupert Spurgeon had created a unique menu specifically to match a range of elegant, beautifully made English wines from Carr Taylor Vineyards. A glorious evening, the sun setting over the lush fields of green on what had become a magnificent Indian Summer September. Not only creating a wonderful atmosphere for the evening but further ensuring that 2009 is going to be a bumper crop for the English Vigneron.

Smoked Chicken Salad with Rapeseed Oil Dressing and Quails Eggs - Matched with Carr Taylor Sparkling Brut NV. Bordeaux Wine Challenge Winner 2009.

Slow Cooked Sussex Fillet of Beef, Caramelised Onions with Honey Jus - Matched with Carr Taylor Sparkling Rose. Mainly Made from Pinot Noir and the first commercially available sparkling rose made in England.

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Prune Compote - Matched with Carr Taylor Ginger Wine. Gold Medal Sussex Taste Awards.

Cocoa Loco Organic Chocolate Mille Feuille with Praline - Matched with Carr Taylor Mead.

And to finish....fresh coffee and petit-fours. A fantastic event, set in a wonderful location and executed magnificently by arguably one of the very finest hotels in the UK. Thank you to Rupert, his superb team and the The South Lodge Hotel in Sussex. Look out for Hot & Spicy Foods matched with English Wines next...


Carr Taylor Sparkling Brut NV
2009 Award Winning Wine!

This terrific wine is the only British winner of a medal at this year's "Challenge International du Vin 2009"!

It won the Bronze, an achievement which makes it, quite literally, a unique British Sparkling Wine!

Made from a carefully selected blend, the Brut has an aromatic nose, a hint of honeyed sweetness and a warm, full flavour. It is ideal for parties and barbecues and other celebrations.

Carr Taylor Sparkling Rose NV
Having rested briefly on the skins to produce the delicate colour, the secondary fermentation has enhanced the fruit flavours of the Pinot Noir grape, creating this mellow, flavoursome sparkling wine. It was the first commercial quality sparkling Rosé in England. Grape Varieties: 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier.


Carr Taylor Ginger Wine
Gold Star Award Winner at Great Taste Awards 2009 Ginger Fruit Wine

Sweet - 11.5% vol - 50cl It has a delicious, warming flavour. It can be mixed with whisky to make a Whisky Mac, or brandy to make a Horse’s neck. Good with pears and rhubarb or poured over ice cream. Wonderful in stir fries to give an oriental flavour. Great with Christmas pudding.

Carr Taylor Mead
A sweet honey based wine ideal for summer!

This sweet wine made from honey has been popular in England since Medieval times. We follow the age- old tradition of fermenting grape and apple juices with honey, using modern fermentation techniques to produce this invigorating beverage. It is even said to be an aphrodisiac. It makes a good hot toddy when mixed with whisky or makes a mouth- watering dessert when added to thick natural yogourt. A perfect honeymoon or wedding wine.

The Grand Hotel Eastbourne & English Vine Tours

The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, a bastion of old fashioned style, elegance and tradition in today’s modern fast, sometimes trashy and throw away society. Situated on the Kings Parade Seafront in Eastbourne, commanding superb views over both The Downs and The Channel.

Andrew Boon, the Food and Beverage Manager of The Grand is on a half-day vine tour experience so taste first hand the sights of the Sussex countryside, the quality and charm of local wines and vineyards as well as enabling us to sign off combined experiences with The Grand and English Vine Tours. The weather was glorious and the day looked good.

Bud set is now taken place and all the future grapes are in fact in place now as tiny bud sets on the vine growth spurs/shoots. The crop for this year already looks great, the vines looks incredibly healthy, a great omen for this year’s crop and wine.

Having just returned from Champagne Andrew was amazed and pleased to see how clean the vineyard was at Carr Taylor and how fresh and healthy everything looked. Again experiencing a smaller vineyard he got a better grip and understanding of what a vineyard is all about, unlike his recent visit to Champagne where production is so vast that you can’t get a true feeling and taste of a working vineyard.

Carr Taylor, not being satisfied with their recent awards for their wines, are in the process of replacing an entire vineyard, as well as new plantings and vineyards near Bodiam Castle, the future of this venerable English estate has never looked better.

Suffice to say that Andrew thoroughly enjoyed his visit, enjoyed the wines and hopes to be working with Carr Taylor more in the future. Additionally for those of you who wish to experience the joy of The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, coupled with an English Vineyard Tour, look no further!