London Cru, the first urban winery to set up shop in central London, has announced its first vintage grapes will be supplied by top French producers including Jeff Coutelou of Mas Coutelou, from Languedoc-Roussillon, William Jonquères d’Oriola of Château in Roussillon and Jacques Lurton, the renowned French Flying Winemaker.
Coutelou will supply Cabernet Sauvignon, Jonquères d’Oriola is providing Chardonnay and Syrah, and Lurton, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. The winery estimates it will be taking in 22 tonnes of fruit this autumn for its inaugural vintage. The fruit is expected be moved from vine to cellar in 36 hours, after being hand-harvested and transported back to London in refrigerated trucks.
Gavin Monery, London Cru’s winemaker, said it selected these producers because “we have excellent, well-established relationships with them and they were able to
provide access to high quality fruit. The only requirement is that the fruit is always of the highest quality.”
The wines will be classified as European Community wine as opposed to British wine. Monery said: “British Wine is associated with wines made from concentrated much rather than fresh grapes, but these classifications are purely an administrative choice.”
London Cru winery will be offering public tours, tastings, courses and custom winemaking beginning in November, with the first limited edition London Cru wine expected to go on sale in mid-2014.
