Bacchus Fumé

The Bacchus grape is a vibrant, early-ripening white wine variety that has quickly become the unofficial "poster grape" for the English still wine industry. Created in Germany in 1933 by viticulturalist Peter Morio, Bacchus is a complex cross between a Silvaner-Riesling hybrid and Müller-Thurgau. Named after the Roman god of wine, it was officially released for general cultivation in 1972. While originally bred to survive in the cooler climates of central Europe, Bacchus has found its true spiritual home in the chalky soils and temperate weather of the United Kingdom. Here, the long, cool growing season allows the grapes to retain a brilliant, zesty acidity while developing an expressive, refreshing bouquet of elderflower, green apple, pear, and bright citrus.

In the wine world, Bacchus is most frequently compared to Sauvignon Blanc due to its crisp profile, mouth-watering acidity, and herbaceous aromatic qualities. However, Bacchus brings its own distinct personality to the glass. Where a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc might lean heavily into aggressive tropical fruits and sharp bell pepper, English Bacchus tends to be slightly softer and more rounded, offering a quintessential "English hedgerow" character filled with delicate floral notes, nettle, and freshly cut grass. Compared to its parent grape, Riesling, Bacchus produces wines that are generally lower in acidity when grown in warmer climates. Yet, in cooler regions like the UK, it strikes a perfect balance—avoiding the overly austere sharpness of some cool-climate whites while delivering a highly aromatic, fruit-forward palate.

When compared to the broader market, our Bacchus stands out for its elevated complexity and textural depth. Located in East Sussex, our estate crafts award-winning expressions of the grape, most notably their highly praised Bacchus Fumé. While many standard English Bacchus wines on the market are fermented purely in stainless steel to maximize fresh, zesty fruit flavours, Our Bacchus Fumé undergoes a partial oak fermentation and lees aging, which introduces luxurious notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted oak that beautifully complement the grape's natural elderflower core. This gentle aging creates a delicate yet sumptuous mouthfeel, resulting in a more sophisticated, food-friendly wine with incredible length that easily rivals premium international whites.