Ben Walgate has long been one of the most dynamic voices in English wine. After formative years at Gusbourne and as co-founder of Tillingham, where his boundary-pushing experiments helped redefine the possibilities of British viticulture, he has turned the page with a new, deeply personal project: Walgate Wines. Based in a converted boatyard warehouse in Rye, Sussex, Walgate Wines unites modern precision with a lo-fi sensibility, sourcing grapes from top southeast growers and shaping them with personality and patience. The focused range includes still red, white, and rosé wines of depth and integrity, alongside small quantities of traditional-method sparkling. With just 22,000 bottles in the debut release, Walgate’s aim is clear: to craft serious English wines that stand confidently on the world stage.

The 2022 vintage marks the debut of Walgate’s still wines. His pinot meunier is sourced from vines farmed biodynamically and regeneratively on clay soils in East Sussex. Whole bunches, berries, and crushed fruit were layered in concrete and left untouched for three weeks before being pressed and guided through concrete, stainless steel, and barrel. The wine is delicate yet resonant, with vivid notes of cherry, pomegranate, and wild strawberry lifted by floral tones and threaded with smoke and white pepper. At just over 10% alcohol, it shows uncommon lightness and clarity, is bright and textural, thirst-quenching yet poised, with the intensity to claim a place among England’s most expressive reds. We like it with a slight chill.

Only 2,277 bottles produced.