Inside the World of Dermot Sugrue, the Winemaker Captivating Critics and Kings

"As I arrive at the vineyard run by Dermot Sugrue and his wife Ana in Sussex, near England's south coast, this year's harvest has already begun. The first grapes were picked in mid-September, weeks earlier than expected after another warm summer - not that you'd guess that from the day's dispiriting drizzle and flat gray sky. Dermot's winery is a converted tractor shed, and as I drive up, I glimpse him in its gloomy interior,"

"He was described as "the best winemaker in England" by the late Steven Spurrier, the wine writer and critic who organized the famous Judgement of Paris in 1976, and it's hard to find anyone who disagrees. Certainly not King Charles III, who is particularly hands-on and has selected Dermot's wines to be served at state banquets. This summer, the 2009 vintage of The Trouble With Dreams, the first Dermot made under his own name, won Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards."

Dermot Sugrue and his wife Ana run a vineyard in Sussex where an early harvest began in mid-September after a warm summer. Their winery operates from a converted tractor shed and relies on manual, hands-on labor during harvest and winemaking. Dermot has been described as the best winemaker in England and has attracted high-profile admirers, including King Charles III, whose state banquets have featured his wines. The 2009 vintage of The Trouble With Dreams won Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards and marked the first time a magnum sparkling wine from any region made the top 50 global wines. The wines blend traditional effort with exceptional critical recognition.

Read at Elite Traveler