Okay, I admit I love showing off my County to my friends. I took guests from the city to visit Closson Chase Winery because we’d enjoyed a bottle of winemaker Deborah Paskus’ 2007 Chardonnay the night before and I wanted them to see where it came from. Mum, Dad and daughter all came away with different pictures and different things they liked most. 11-yr-old Isabella loved that the barn is purple, that purple flowers grow around the doors (Russian Sage) and that she found other purple flowers in the garden (plus one teeny tiny toad). Mum adored the art glass that frames the doors (and features on the CC logo and labels) and the vineyard at the end of the garden. Dad admired the elegant barn renovation, then did some tasting. His pick? The new release 2008 South Clos VQA released just the day before. Nik, our tasting room host, had sold 100 bottles the first day and with only about 3,500 bottles made, looks like this vintage will sell out. Very different from the 2007, this Chardonnay tastes fresh, fresh, fresh … and lovely. It’s made from the grapes of a single vineyard and it’s 100% County! (big round of applause). My old friends were impressed and I was proud. The usual story. If they make it back for the TASTE! weekend, Isabella can go off frog and toad hunting (the event is for 19 years and older) while Mum and Dad hunt down the Closson Chase booth at the Crystal Palace – sampling glasses at the ready.

Janet Davies

Tags: Add new tag, Closson Chase, TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine