GET TO KNOW OUR PARTNERS – BLUEBELL VINEYARD ESTATES

As we head towards the weekend and the prospect of a British Grand Prix behind closed doors, we are pleased to be able to bring a bit of spectator participation to Sunday’s race with our Live Webcast Q&A with Rob Smedley, Formula 1’s Director of Data Systems. Click the link to find out more and check into the event Torque Shop With Rob Smedley

We’ll be talking to Rob about his life in F1 and his latest role heading up the team developing new and informative ways to present Formula 1 racing to the global TV audience and trackside spectators alike.

A key part of our event will be to raise funds for two great UK charities close to Rob’s heart, Sands (https://www.sands.org.uk/) and Readley (https://www.readley.co.uk/).

We are delighted to also have the support of Bluebell Vineyard Estates who are sponsoring the event through their award-winning Hindleap English Sparkling Wine Collection, and have kindly provided us with 100 bottles to give away to the first 100 viewers who answer the question posed by Rob during the webcast on Sunday morning!

Bluebell Vineyard Estates is a family-run vineyard and winery with a passion for producing world class still and sparkling wines.

Bluebell Vineyard Estates is the home to over 100,000 vines set in 100 acres growing premium quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier vines along with Seyval Blanc, Bacchus, Ortega, Chasselas and Merlot.

The team crafts its wines using the traditional method of production and they strive to produce wines with the perfect balance of fruit character, acidity and ageing.  All Bluebell wines are vintage wines, that is to say they are made exclusively from grapes grown in a single year. This means that every Hindleap and Ashdown Vintage is unique.

Since their first commercial release from the 2007 vintage, Bluebell Vineyard Estates’ wines have gone on to critical acclaim with its range of ‘Hindleap’ sparkling wines winning over sixty national and international awards, confirming Bluebell Vineyard Estates’ reputation as one of England’s leading producers.

The team has planted and nurtured a range of different grape clones including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier varieties. Matching them carefully to site and soil conditions to contribute to the diversity and complexity of the wines, each individual grape is hand harvested to allow the nuances of aroma and flavour from the different areas of the vineyard to flourish.

Following harvesting, the grapes are gently whole-bunch pressed and fermented over 4 weeks in cool temperatures to protect and enhance the fruit flavours which contribute to the unique characteristic of the Hindleap and Ashdown ranges.

Each Spring, following a winter storage where the wines develop their signature complexity of flavour, the blends for each style are finalised, under the guidance of winemaker Kevin Sutherland, before they are bottled for secondary fermentation and aged for a minimum of 18 – 60 months on yeast lees, depending on wine style.  Time on lees adds depth, richness and complexity to the wines; only when the wines meet Bluebell Vineyard Estate’s standards are they released onto the market.

Bluebell Vineyard Estates are currently open for business for Cellar Door Sales Monday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, and also inviting parties of up to eight guests for tours around the Winery Thursday to Sunday. If you would like to learn more about Bluebell Vineyard Estates or would like to visit the Estate for a tour and sampling, then visit https://www.bluebellvineyard.org/

If you would like to experience the very best hospitality at one of the marquee races in 2021, please contact JDC Promotions and let us build a bespoke package for you and your guests.