If you’re looking into English wines, you are probably aware that the industry’s reputation is going from strength to strength. (It’s amazing how many people still don’t know we make wine in the UK!) Whether your motivation is keeping your carbon footprint low, supporting local producers, or simply that you’re interested in sourcing exciting new, good quality, authentic English wines, we hope you will like what you find here.
Quality through experience
What makes us different is that we are a long-established, friendly, family-run business. As one of the first commercial vineyards in this country (ignoring the vineyards that existed in Roman times), we also have many decades of experience dedicated to perfecting the art of crafting fine English wines. All our wines are made from the grapes we grow on our 37 acre vineyard here in East Sussex, or from other local sites that we manage.
Our secret weapon is our second generation winemaker, Alex Carr Taylor. Few winemakers in this country have literally grown up in the industry. His parents, Linda and David, planted the vineyard when Alex was a toddler, so he grew up in amongst the vines here. He has a perfectionist streak that earned him a first in his bachelor degree and subsequently the Vintner’s Cup, awarded to the best student, when he completed the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma (the closest there is to a degree in the world of wine).
Coach Tours are always welcome and advance booking is advised
We regularly welcome coach parties from all over the country, wanting to come and have a tour of our vineyard. Bookings must be made in advance, to ensure that we have the space for you (it can get extremely busy in peak times). We also need to ensure that there is a tour guide if your coach party would like to take advantage of the special condensed tour, with tea/coffee and cake package that we offer to our regular coach visitors.
We have won well over 130 awards and medals since the vineyard was founded!
The following are the 36 awards we have won since 2000!:-
| Year | Wine & Vintage | Competition | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Brut Sparkling 2008 | English & Welsh Wine of the Year | Bronze |
| 2011 | Brut Sparkling 2008 | South East Vineyard Association | Bronze |
| 2011 | Alexis 2010 | English & Welsh Wine of the Year | Silver |
| 2011 | Alexis 2010 | South East Vineyard Association | Highly Commended |
| 2011 | 1066 2010 | South of England Show | 3rd |
| 2011 | 1066 2010 | English & Welsh Wine of the Year | Highly Commended |
| 2011 | 1066 2010 | South East Vineyard Association | Highly Commended |
| 2011 | Vessel IV 2010 | English & Welsh Wine of the Year | Highly Commended |
| 2011 | Vessel IV 2010 | South East Vineyard Association | Highly Commended |
| 2010 | Brut Sparkling 2006 | South East Vineyard Association | Bronze |
| 2010 | Alexis 2009 | International Wine & Spirit | Bronze |
| 2010 | Alexis 2009 | South East Vineyard Association | Bronze |
| 2010 | Rosé 2009 | UKVA English Wine of the Year | Bronze |
| 2010 | Rosé 2009 | South of England Show | 3rd |
| 2010 | Vessel IV 2009 | South East Vineyard Association | Bronze |
| 2009 | Brut Sparkling 2006 | Challenge International du Vin | Bronze |
| 2009 | Ginger | Great Taste Awards 2009 | Gold Star |
| 2006 | Brut Sparkling 2003 | British Bottlers’ Institute | Gold |
| 2006 | Alexis 2005 | British Bottlers’ Institute | Gold |
| 2006 | Vessel IV 2005 | British Bottlers’ Institute | Silver |
| 2006 | Ginger | Great Taste Awards | Gold |
| 2006 | Mead | Great Taste Awards | Silver |
| 2006 | Cherry | Great Taste Awards | Bronze |
| 2004 | 1066 2003 | International Wine & Spirit | Bronze |
| 2004 | Vessel IV 2003 | International Wine Challenge | Seal of Approval |
| 2004 | Rosé 2003 | English Wine Festival | Silver |
| 2001 | Alexis 2000 | International Wine & Spirit | Bronze |
| 2001 | Alexis 2000 | International Wine Challenge | Seal of Approval |
| 2001 | Vessel II 2000 | International Wine & Spirit | Commended |
| 2001 | Vessel IV 2000 | International Wine Challenge | Seal of Approval |
| 2001 | Vintage Sparkling 1997 | Challenge International du Vin | Bronze |
| 2001 | Vessel IV 2000 | International Wine Challenge | Seal of Approval |
| 2001 | Non-Vintage Sparkling 1997 | International Wine & Spirit | Bronze |
| 2001 | Non-Vintage Sparkling 1997 | Challenge International du Vin | Silver |
| 2000 | Vintage Sparkling 1996 | International Wine & Spirit | Silver |
| 2000 | Brut Sparkling 1997 | International Wine & Spirit | Bronze |
If you have any questions or wish to get in touch with us for any reason, please telephone us on 01424 752501, email us at sales@carr-taylor.co.uk or send a fax to 01424 751716.
The office is staffed from 9am to 5pm every weekday, and the shop (same telephone number) is open from 10am to 5pm every day including weekends, except Christmas and Boxing Day!
Staying in the area and want to see more vineyards?
Stay at https://Saltcote.co.uk/ which is only 700 yards from Rye high st with lots of secure parking and they will even arrange a vineyard tour with food on the way round. Call Saltcote Place to book direct on 01797 222220