The UK wine industry has steadily flourished over the past few years, and Carden Park Estate’s English Sparkling is no exception. There are three acres of deliciousness tucked away at the back of the estate, making it Cheshire’s largest commercial vineyard. Since the vines were planted in 1988, the vineyard has thrived year after year. The 4,000 vines now produce up to 6,000 bottles of high-quality Carden Park Estate Reserve Sparkling every year thanks to their dedication, hard work, and nurturing.
The Estate has recently hired a new Head Sommelier, Patryk Kapelinski, to strengthen its offerings and support the launch of its fine dining Vines restaurant last year. In addition to having extensive knowledge of wine, Patryk has worked in the industry for over 15 years, pairing it perfectly with food and identifying its characteristics.
Beginning his career in a small Italian deli in Warsaw at just 16, Patryk fell in love with wine from the outset and felt passionate about the human history of the drink that dates back 8,000 years. Offering premium quality northern Italian wine, he felt drawn to studying, researching, and selling other wines and their bodies. Now a part of the UK Sommelier Association, a certified sommelier and qualified in the Level Three Wines and Spirit Education Trust, Patryk is an expert at telling the story of a wine’s land, people, and history.
A few months ago, when Patryk was walking his dog in the Cheshire countryside, he stumbled across Carden Park Estate and its vineyard. Having never looked back, he downloaded their menus and researched their wines as soon as he arrived home impressed by their standard, he applied for a job at The Vines and has now been in the role since June.
Having worked with the team through a record hot summer, Patryk shares his predictions for the future of English Wine: “When the UK began producing wine in the 1990s, people were sceptical as traditionally it’s too cold here. But now, this change in weather has brought with it similar conditions to those of the Champagne region, giving English Wine, especially Sparkling, a chance to really shine. Throughout summer, I walked past the vines every day on my way to work to see how they were doing and each day, they were visibly thriving more and more. With less moisture and dryer air, this year’s harvest in October is set to be the best yet. I can’t wait!”
With a sustainable wine offering that is focused on quality, not quantity, The Vines curated menu is timeless. Featuring other global options from Romania, Italy, Burgundy, and France, it highlights a modern British influence paired with classic French cooking techniques. Just last month, the restaurant introduced a wine flight expertly created by Patryk to offer a more challenging and exciting variance of balance and contrast throughout the meal.
Working closely with The Vines Restaurant Manager Rachel Roberts, Patryk and his team continue to provide an unforgettable gastronomic experience for their guests that wows them at every moment. Both Patryk and Rachel are keen to keep the wine offering on-site small, fresh and at a good level.
