The fruit comes from two vineyards on the South Downs in West Sussex, which are above the 50th parallel and are influenced by a cool, coastal climate. The cool winters, moderate rainfall, temperate summers, and cooling sea breezes encourage the grapes to ripen slowly, retaining the natural acidity crucial for producing freshness in high-quality sparkling wine. The vines are grown on a chalk escarpment, which is not dissimilar to the soils found in the vineyards of the Cotes de Blancs in Champagne. These chalky soils provide excellent drainage for the vines and impart great elegance and finesse to the wines. The vines are planted at a density of 4,000 vines per hectare and are trained according to the Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) method with Guyot pruning. The vines are tended by hand, with careful canopy management ensuring maximum sunlight exposure in this capricious climate. The Wiston vineyard is run according to a strict philosophy of sustainability, with soil cultivation methods being used rather than synthetic preparations. The harvest takes place manually when the grapes have reached optimum maturity levels.