The college’s ‘Dean Blush’ received a gold medal and claimed the titles ‘Best in Class English Rosé NV’ and Best Value English Sparkling Wine at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine Championships.
Dean Blush is made by College students using Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes grown at Plumpton’s vineyards near Haywards Heath. And a wine made by Plumpton graduate Emma Rice at Hattingley Valley won the prize for the best Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine in the world.
Chris Foss, who heads the Plumpton College Wine Division, said: “The key difference with our wines is that the vine-growing and wine-making is carried out almost entirely by our undergraduate students. You can almost taste their enthusiasm for tending the vines, managing the fermentations and agreeing the blends.”
Plumpton’s Principal, Jeremy Kerswell, said: “This is an outstanding achievement - the staff and student winemakers are tremendously proud of their products and the awards they have achieved, which encourage them to go on to make great wines, not just in England, but all over the world.”