Attack of the Clones: England's Beare Green Winery with Jimmy Smith

Wine School founder and chief taster, Jimmy Smith and winemaker and educator Sam Hill invite you to join them on the second tasting event showcasing this exciting new project at their winery, Beare Green Winery. Jimmy and Sam have researched the importance of clonal selection of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to produce exceptionally high quality examples. Through meticulous research and working with some of the UK's most esteemed grapegrowers both Jimmy and Sam are delighted to lead you through their first-ever release of the clonal wines.

What are clones?

Within a grape variety such as Chardonnay there are variations that occur due to the development of that grape variety in a particular climate, weather, geology and topography (collectively called 'terroir'). These variations, called mutations, occur due to the external factors providing varying inputs into the specific grape variety. Therefore Chardonnay will be genetically identical around the world, but will have developed variations/mutations/clones dependent on the locality. This can alter the physiology of the vine creating differing foliage, grape cluster/berry sizes, different skin:juice ratio and colour, varying sugar/acid/tannin levels and the list can go on. Even within the same vineyard, the plantation of varying clones therefore can ultimately create different styles of wine.

Beare Green Winery

Beare Green Winery was founded by Jimmy Smith, Sam Hill and Bethany Paterson in the cool climate of the Surrey Hills of England with their first vintage in 2022. The winery crafts small batch wines with care and precision using grapes sourced from the finest vineyards of Southern England. The focus is on natural yeast fermentation, minimal intervention and innovation and creativity in the winery

Beare Green Winery wines on tasting (all 2023s):

Aperitif: Dio Bacchus, Surrey Hills, 2023

Chardonnay, Thakeham Vineyard, Clone 121, West Sussex (RRP £34)

Chardonnay, Pulborough Vineyard, Clone 95, West Sussex (RRP £34)

Chardonnay, Pulborough Vineyard, Clone 96, West Sussex (RRP £34)

Chardonnay, Clonal Blend, West Sussex (RRP £29)

Pinot Noir, Pulborough Vineyard, Clone 777, West Sussex (RRP £36)

Pinot Noir, Pulborough Vineyard, Clone 114, West Sussex (RRP £36)

Pinot Noir, Clonal Blend, West Sussex (RRP £29)