Langham Wine Estate announces new release of Culver Classic Cuvée NV

The wine shows the power and richness of its two red varieties, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with an opulence and depth that helps it pair wonderfully with food, the winery explained. 

Similar to the Langham Corallian, its sister Classic Cuvée, Culver is a non-vintage wine built on the variety and complexity of over 130 single vintage base wines aged in stainless steel and old oak, with the addition of reserve wines from concrete tank solera. 

Head winemaker of Langham Wine Estate, Tommy Grimshaw, said: “Culver is a wine that is built around a broad palate and a long finish.  

“This is a distinct difference to its sibling Corallian which is far more linear and built on its acid line. Culver is a chance for Meunier to show off its ability to bring weight to the mid palate and hold a wide structure at the back of the palate, whilst the Pinot Noir brings a ripe red fruit profile.  

“It is a delicate, yet rich sparkling wine. It’s a wine I love in the autumn and winter months as food gets more rich and comforting and the nights draw in.”  

Pairs well with smoked fish, roasted celeriac or roast turkey with bacon

Langham Culver has earned numerous accolades in 2024. It was ranked second out of 43 NV English Sparkling Whites by The Real Review, was awarded a gold medal at the WineGB Awards and has received two silver medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards and Sommelier Wine Awards. 

The winery has also gained recognition for its portfolio of sparkling wines, most recently being named The Real Review Winery of the Year Great Britain 2024 and Best Estate Winery at the WineGB Awards 2024. 

In addition to Culver and Corallian, the estate’s impressive range includes a Rosé, a Blanc de Blancs and a Pinot Noir 2019. 

Langham Culver is produced from 74% 2021 vintage and 26% reserve wine from the grape varieties Pinot Noir (75%), Chardonnay (14%) and Pinot Meunier (11%).  

The fruit is pressed oxidatively in a three tonne pneumatic press, and then the juice is left to settle overnight, which is the first of many characteristic steps in Langham’s low-intervention method.  

The juice is then racked into a combination of stainless steel and old, predominantly French oak (minimum three years old, ex Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux).  

Alcoholic fermentation occurs spontaneously, followed by full malolactic fermentation and prolonged ageing with regular bâtonnage. Less sugar is added at tirage, leading to a lower bottle pressure of around 4.5 bar.  

Langham said that its approach prioritises blending from an array of complex base wines that are complemented, not dominated by autolysis from 15-18 months of lees ageing in the bottle after second fermentation.  

As with all Langham’s wines, Culver is vegan and vegetarian, blended and bottled without fining and filtration.  

When blending Culver, Langham targets richness and breadth. On the nose, the wine is a delicate balance of cherry, almond blossom and greengage, contrasted by a vibrant palate of gala apple and papaya.  

The creamy mid-palate makes way for a long, zippy orange sherbet finish. The team enjoys pairing this wine with smoked fish, roasted celeriac or roast turkey with bacon. 

Priced at £32.95, Langham Culver Classic Cuvée NV, 12% ABV, is available to buy from Langham Wine Estate’s website.

The winery has also recently announced a new partnership with multi-award-winning wine distributor, Liberty Wines, who boast one of the most impressive portfolios of producers in the country.  

Langham’s wines are now exclusively available to Liberty Wines’ portfolio of leading restaurants, hotels, bars, caterers and retail outlets in the UK and Ireland.  

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