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Artelium Wine – Crafted in Sussex

Tuesday, 9 April 2024 11:10

By Robert Veitch

As the Sussex wine industry continues to expand and lead the way for the rest of the UK it is heartwarming to find a winery that’s producing award winning wines of outstanding quality, so we sent Robert Veitch to find out more

Stepping into the Artelium Tasting Room is to step into a beautifully restored barn populated with comfy, cosy sofas, engaging art, and several bottles from the range on display. It’s instantly appealing, relaxing and draws you towards the bar.

Waiting inside was the owner, Julie Bretland, along with marketing and hospitality manager, Hannah Simpson-Banks. Julie explained, “We bought the site in 2017, planted the first vines in 2018 and we now have over 23 acres in production on clay terroir at the foot of the South Downs.”

Artelium grow the three main sparkling wine varietals; Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, plus a little Pinot Gris. They produce both traditional-method sparkling wine as well as still wines, which are sought after by top-end restaurants and independent wine merchants across London and the country.

Hannah said, “Our wines are popular with restaurants that look for provenance and seasonality and our wines are very well regarded within the industry and among the critics. We are a well-kept secret and a little off the beaten track so people really enjoy discovering us.”

Artelium are open for visitors from Thursday to Sunday with tasting tours running all year round. As Julie suggested, “Come for a tour and tasting, and stop for a bite of lunch, it’s a lovely way to spend half a day,” to which Hannah added, “We serve platters and we’re launching a more extensive summer menu.” It’s easy to imagine a long leisurely lunch in the tasting room, or on the outdoor terrace in these idyllic surroundings with glorious views of the vines and the Downs.

Artelium also run a wine club and sell their wines to the public which can be bought directly from the tasting room or online. Julie popped the cork on a bottle of Curators Cuvee. “A great entry into our wines,” she explained as she poured three glasses. Delightfully bright and vibrant on the nose, it offers refreshing notes of toast, brioche, and apple on the palate. With a long, delicious finish, it’s like an enchanting sunset at the end of a glorious day.

Though being a relative newbie on the scene, Artelium has already garnered several awards. At the 2022 Wine GB awards the team won the ‘Newcomer Trophy’ and ‘Top Sparkling Wine’ of 2022. They have also won three International Wine Challenge (IWC) awards and four Decanter magazine awards. With such a short history, these are significant achievements.

These are heady times for English wine, the growth in quality in recent years has been astonishing and a bottle of excellent Sussex wine is an affordable luxury to enjoy and indulge in at any time.

The name Artelium signifies a place for the enjoyment of art and artisan, a place to experience the joy of wine, landscape, and creatives. Without a doubt Artelium is a success. Santé!

 

Artelium

Streat Lane, Streat, BN6 6SA

www.artelium.com

hello@artelium.com

01273 569155

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