A VINEYARD in Dorset is releasing a new range of sparkling wines to mark English Wine Week, which continues until Sunday.

Furleigh Estate has unveiled its 'From the Oenothèque' collection, with its name reflecting the long production and cellaring process the wines go through.

'From the Oenothèque 10' is the first of the range, made entirely from the 2010 vintage. It balances floral aromas with flavours of preserved lemons and peaches, plus notes of hazelnut and toasted brioche.

Rebecca Hansford, who co-owns and runs Furleigh Estate with her husband Ian Edwards, said: "We have always been about producing the very highest quality wines from our glorious Dorset soils. This range represents the pinnacle of our production here at Furleigh Estate. It is the crème de la crème."

Rebecca continues: “Ian is our winemaker here. He produces wines of exceptional balance with acidity, fruit and texture all working together in perfect harmony. With the Oenothèque range he has had the freedom and the time to select the best wines to produce something very special.”

The new range pairs well with savoury pastry dishes such as salmon en croute and seafood filo parcels, as well as poultry and mushroom recipes. Produced using the traditional method with a secondary fermentation in the bottle, it has spent 70 months on its lees and a further 24 months under cork. It consists of 60% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier.

Furleigh Estate can be found in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Salway Ash near Bridport. The soil in the vineyards is perfect for growing still and sparkling wines, and produces approximately 40,000 bottles of wine every year. The estate has received several prestigious awards including trophies in the International Wine Challenge and a gold medal in the Effervescent du Monde competition held in Lyon.

The wines from Furleigh Estate are sold in shops and bars across the country, including Selfridges in London and The Savoy and Searcy's Champagne Bar at St Pancras station. Products can also be bought from the estate's website or direct from the vineyard.

For more information visit the Furleigh Estate website or follow the vineyard on social media.