Aromatic and spiced, showing bramble fruit and dark red cherries.
Wild Kite Wines
Pinot Noir
ABOUT THIS WINE
Vineyard: Arun Valley Vineyard in The Haven, West Sussex, grown on sandy loam over Wealden Clay. The site has a gentle North-facing slope, looking towards Leith Hill. Tributaries of the River Arun flow around the land on which the vineyard is planted.
Fruit: Our Pinot Noir is made from clone 115 grown in our own vineyard at Arun Valley Vineyard.
Vintage: 2025 (on sale late 2027)
Processing: The grapes were harvested in October 2025. The fruit was processed in our own winery at Arun Valley Vineyard. The fruit was hand sorted and then destemmed, after which it was transferred to a single 2t stainless steel fermentation vat. A three-day cold maceration followed, after which alcoholic fermentation started. Over the course of 12 days, the pomace was managed using twice daily gentle pump-overs and a few punch-downs during the middle third. This combination of techniques minimised rough tannin extraction but allowed the wine to build flavour and structure. After 12 days, the wine was drained and separated from the pomace. The fermented pomace was gently pressed in a basket press to minimise astringent tannin extraction. The free run was blended with the pressings and transferred to three 228L ex-Burgundy barrels for continued alcoholic fermentation, malolactic, and maturation. In barrel, the wine underwent a natural malolactic with periodic stirring to agitate the dead yeast (lees) to build texture and a round mouthfeel. Maturation will continue through 2026.
Bottling: It is anticipated this red Pinot Noir will be ready for bottling in early 2027 and will go on sale later in 2027, depending on how the wine matures.
Food Pairings: An ideal complement to poultry and lamb, grilled or cooked in a traditional way.
Alcohol (% ABV) - 12
Bottle size - 750ml
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TASTING NOTES
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THE VINEYARD
Our wines are grown at Arun Valley Vineyard in one of the UK’s most biodiverse landscapes, where ancient oaks and the River Arun shape our vines. Our rare mix of clay, silt and sand brings depth and character, setting us apart from many chalk-based English vineyards. Farming regeneratively and running entirely on biodiesel, we nurture a self-sustaining ecosystem to craft wines truly woven into the landscape.
THE WINERY
We wanted a vineyard, but at Arun Valley we inherited a winery too - albeit little more than a metal shed when we arrived. In our first year, alongside former winemaker for Balfour, James Snowden, we transformed it in time for the early 2025 harvest, bringing production on site. Today we craft both still and sparkling wines, with an ambitious single-barrel Pinot Meunier quietly ageing in French oak - a proud step towards making everything ourselves at Arun Valley.
ABOUT US
After retiring from careers in pharmaceutical law, we swapped London for a 19-acre site in West Sussex’s Arun Valley. A pair of kites nesting in nearby oaks inspired the name Wild Kite, symbolising our bold new chapter. Embracing the steep learning curve, we celebrated our first harvest in October 2025 and now craft Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay in our on-site winery with winemaker James Snowden - proof that second chapters can be the most rewarding.
