The English Wine Diaries
The English Wine Diaries is a weekly interview series with Rebecca Pitcairn, writer, editor and English wine expert. Each week Rebecca is joined by a special guest from the world of wine (and beyond) to talk all about their English wine journey. From sommeliers to vineyard owners, hoteliers and some rather familiar faces too, discover how a love of wine – particularly that made on British soil – has helped shape their lives and careers. www.englishwinediaries.co.uk.
The English Wine Diaries
Episode 105 – Scott Gebbie, MD and head of production at Mereworth
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Scott Gebbie, Managing Director and head of production Mereworth Wines in Kent.
Scott graduated from Leeds University with a degree in Food and Nutrition before discovering an interest in viticulture and winemaking. This led him to explore and work in vineyards and wineries in both the southern and northern hemispheres, vintage hopping between Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, England, Portugal and Italy.
After studying for a Joint Master's Degree in Viticulture, Oenology and Wine Business from Montpellier and Geisenheim Universities, he took up a research position for the Comité Champagne in Epernay and worked closely with growers looking at the planting structure of vineyards, the climate and its effect on the sensory typicity of Champagne.
In 2018, Scott returned to his native Kent and helped establish the vineyards at Mereworth Wines, which comprise 2.5 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier planted on the Greensand Ridge.
Dating back 500 years, Mereworth boasts a long association with fruit and hop growing, with some of the first hops in the country planted here. Now, the former Brewers Hall oast house is home to a winery, which has expanded over the years to now include a full contract winemaking business.
Keep up to date with all things Mereworth at mereworth.co.uk and on Instagram @mereworthwines.
This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Rankin Bros & Sons — trusted suppliers of corks, closures, and packaging solutions to the UK wine industry since 1774. To learn more about how Rankin is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk.
Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.