Review: Wine tasting tour of Chet Valley Vineyard, Thurton

Chet Valley Vineyard, near Thurton, began its first steps more than a decade ago.

We were invited to try a number of their finest wines (Image: Alanna Baker)

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In easy reach from the city centre – 20 minutes in a car, or cycle routes that go straight to the door – it is well worth a visit to the venue for those looking for something a little bit different.  

Skylark is one of the companies best sellers (Image: Alanna Baker)

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Chet Valley has become well known for being the only winery in the region to make its sparkling wine using a traditional in-house method – which involves it being fermented in a bottle. 

John paired each wine with the perfect bite (Image: Alanna Baker)

Upon tasting Skylark, which is the best seller, it was easy to see why wine maker John Hemmant chose to stick to this method.  

The vineyard is an accredited sustainable organisation in the way they grow, farm and produce wine, and John oozes with passion – not just for the remarkable wine he produces, but the foundations of his business too.  

The vines are grown in a way to best protect them from frost and other harmful weather (Image: Maya Derrick)

On the tour, John was excited to talk about his dreams for the future such as using the sediment that is taken out of the wine to make a delicious snack and one day being able to make brandy using his delicious recipes.  

Visitors are in good hands upon a visit as what this man does not know about wine is not worth knowing.  

The upstairs venue is also available for meetings and weddings as well as wine tasting (Image: Maya Derrick)

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But the vineyard itself has so much to offer, with wine tasting tours, clubs, vineyard picnics, venue hire and corporate days out and a vineyard dog called Rosie to fall in love with, there really is something for everyone.  

Chet Valley have unveiled a coronation wine too - perfect for coronation parties (Image: Maya Derrick)

With Chet Valley's wonderful wines and artisanal passion so evident, we cannot wait to see what the other eight announced exhibitors at Norwich Wine Week have ready to tickle our taste buds this June. 

City folk are able to book wine tastings, or just nip in to try a glass of the fine English wine (Image: Alanna Baker)