Litmus Wines probably not a well-known producer but it does make exceedingly good wines. It is the company which makes wines for Denbies at the Denbies winery just outside Dorking. It is the company which makes a number of own label English wines for a number of British high street retailers. It is the company which creates the wines for number of smaller English vineyards. And it is exceptionally good at making wine.

The key winemakers are John Worontschak and Mattheiu Elsinga. They have many years of experience of making wines around the world; John has been making English wine since 1988 and given good fruit he will make very good wine. The Litmus brand is only used for 4 wines, Element 20, White Pinot, Pinot Noir and the Orange, but each wine is rich and characterful and aims to create wines with ‘dimension’.

The Litmus Pinot Noir is quite a different Pinot Noir to those usually found in England. This not due to the fruit but because the wine maker, John Worontschak, has a particular view on how his Pinot Noir should be made. In fact, the fruit for the wine came from a vineyard in Kent. So far, we have not managed to get the name of the exact out of the Litmus guys; it’s on a need-to-know basis!

However, what we do know is that the wine is a great example of the variety and shows restrained notes of wild strawberry, some gentle cherry and a complex range of dried leaves, herb and spice. This is not a fruit-forward style but a wine of structure, complexity and persistence. It has, like a good novel, a beginning a middle and an end and each point delivers flavour and character.

Food Pairing Ideas: This a wine to partner food such as duck, rabbit or pigeon, something with a game note but not too heavy. So, a duck confit or pigeon breast, for instance, would be perfect.

ABV: 12.5%

Vegan Friendly

Surrey Wine