By Rebecca Wooden
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Climpson & Sons, from sharing ideas and innovation in the specialty industry to communication and collectively minded training within our teams. For us, collaboration is the source of spontaneity, creativity and idea making. With this in mind, we love to collab with other businesses that share these values. This season we’ve partnered with West London’s innovative and forward-thinking urban winery for a curated collection of wines and coffees.
Step forward London Cru, London’s finest urban winery. Based in a Victorian warehouse and once-gin distillery, London Cru have been innovators from the start as the UK’s very first urban winery, opening their doors back in 2013. Since 2017 their grapes have been exclusively sourced from English vineyards, fuelling the rise of quality English wines whilst specialising in making hand crafted, quality still wines. Historic Chelsea surroundings and industrial exterior disguise a production with innovation at its core, featuring state-of-the art winemaking facilities and precision temperature controlled tanks establishing their prominence on the menus of Michelin starred restaurants in London and across the UK.
As of this year, London Cru has purchased its own vineyards in West Sussex. London Cru Winemaker Alex Hurley shares his insights.
“Differing from most of the producers in the UK, London Cru has a focus on crafting top quality still wines. Whilst many vineyards are being planted around the UK, few growers truly have this still wine focus. Foxhole Vineyard marks London Cru’s ambitious project to increase the quality and styles of still wines being made in the UK by taking advantage of controlling every stage of production from vine to glass. Less than 50 miles from their urban winery Foxhole Vineyard demonstrates London Cru’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of winemaking and elevating the quality of still wines in the UK. We are very excited to start this next chapter that embodies the spirit of London Cru’s innovation.”
Winery Events & Education Manager, Beth Brickenden, is delighted to spearhead this collaboration.
“Coffee and wine share a rich tapestry of craft, language and sensory experience, a perfect pairing for a gift box this festive season.”
We’ve joined forces for two extra special gift boxes this year and an exclusive chance to try a back vintage of their 2015 Gresham Street Grenache as well as their award winning 2020 Blanc de Blanc English Sparkling Wine. We’re showcasing these wines alongside our classic espresso and, of course, Midnight Oil Espresso Martini. Let’s find out a little more about those wines …
Grown in Spain, made in London. London Cru’s 2015 Gresham Street Grenache is aromatic and floral, with notes of dried roses, plush dark fruits and buckets of spice. This wine is made from organic grapes grown on 90-year-old vines at 1000m altitude in central Spain. Ageing in neutral oak barrels has preserved the delicate aromas of the grape variety for a superb elegance. Pair with a hearty Christmas dinner.
Brut English sparkling wine, the 2020 Blanc de Blanc is clean, lively and fruit-forward with fine bubbles and a truly pleasant balance of freshness and a classy vibrancy. The grapes for this traditional method were sourced from a single vineyard in West Marden, West Sussex where they were hand harvested before being transported to London and gently whole bunch pressed. Primary fermentation was completed in temperature controlled stainless tanks and neutral French oak barrels before full malolactic fermentation and then ageing on lees for 6 months.
You can sample these wines, alongside a tasty bag of Climpson’s espresso and our Midnight Oil Espresso Martini in a choice of two gift boxes.
Includes one 750ml bottle of London Cru’s 2015 Gresham Street Grenache, a 250g of The Baron, from Daterra Estate, Brazil and a 700 ml bottle of ready to serve Midnight Oil Espresso Martini.
Gift ready, order here!
Enjoy two Exclusive Wines, London Cru's 2020 Blanc de Blancs sparkling English fizz and 2015 Gresham Street Grenache, two 250g bags of Climpsons' bestselling espressos: The Baron and The Estate as well as a 700 ml bottle of Midnight Oil Espresso Martini
Christmas drinking from morning until night, order here!
London Cru offer tastings, tours and ‘winemaker for the day’ courses from their home in West London as well as offering their wines for both retail and wholesale.
