Chardonnay 2023

London’s first urban winery is tucked away down a little alley in Fulham. The brainchild of the legendary Cliff Roberson (Drew’s former boss at Buckingham Vintners and Roberson Wine), London Cru was established in 2012 and has produced wine from exclusively English-grown grapes since 2017. The winery is situated in an old Victorian warehouse, once a gin distillery, and now houses state-of-the-art winemaking facilities. Alex Hurley joined as head winemaker in 2018. In 2023, London Cru acquired Foxhole Vineyard, less than 50 miles away in West Sussex, now allowing them to maintain complete control over the production process. Whilst many English wineries focus on sparkling wines, London Cru has an unusual commitment to crafting premium still wines in the UK. Chardonnay grapes that are suitable for still wines in England are very rare, but 2023 was an exceptional vintage for English winemakers.