Ancre Hill, Blanc de Noir

Ancre Hill Estates, owned by Richard and Joy Morris, comprises two vineyard sites on the edge of Monmouth, South-East Wales. It has some 30,000 vines planted on approximately 12-hectares (29.5 acres) and a state-of-the-art, modern winery. The business has evolved from the first plantings in 2006 and 2007 and now extends to about 4 hectares of mature vines to include Newton Court Farm, purchased in 2014.

Also in 2014 a new winery was built, where a further 8 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines were planted. All the land was former grazing pasture and has never been used for agriculture, so the soils are healthy and well-nourished. Ancre Hill apply a holistic approach to all activities in vineyard and winery, and practice conscientious biodynamics.

In the vineyard the preps are stirred by hand, in rain water and sprayed strictly under the correct conditions. The use of sulphur is kept to a minimum through using wild plant tisanes. Raw milk is used as a vine treatment, as it contains antiseptic properties and enzymes that act as fungal control and nutrition for the plant. Insecticides, pesticides and herbicides are not used, with weeds ploughed out from under the vines.

A programme of cultivation provides the soil with aeration to development a healthy micro-organism population, without petrochemical fertilisers. Co-plantation and the promotion of wild flora and fauna help maintain the balance of the eco-system and soils. The grapes are manually harvested and whole bunch pressed.

Fermentation in oak barrels, concrete egg and stainless steel over 12 months for the base wine, then ageing of 2-3 years on lees. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, with minimal sulphur and zero dosage, Brut Nature.