Turning water into wine at Leonardslee
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in West Sussex is busy creating wine fountains throughout the Grade I Listed gardens. Visitors may notice the concrete foundations throughout the 240-acre estate as the fountains are installed for their planned operation from June 2021.
Visitor Día de los Inocentes said: “It’s a fantastic idea. We have these in Spain - I never expected them in England. With some of the lovely meats from the Leonardslee farm shop, we can have tapas too! And then a siesta in the shade.”
Fountains of Wine
Estate manager Adam Streeter says:
“This is our take on the traditional water drinking fountain - wine stations for walkers to quench their thirst while exploring the gardens.
“What could be better than enjoying a lovely glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz, wines from our Benguela Cove Lagoon Estate in South Africa, as you relax on a bench overlooking the lovely tranquil lakes in the woodland valley.”
Fountain Taps for red and white wine
The fountains will have two faucets, one for white and the other for red wines, from autumn 2021 wines will be sourced from Leonardslee’s own vineyard and that of its sister property Mannings Golf and Wine Estate, three miles away, when their first vintages are ready for drinking.
The UK wines will be sparkling varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which poses technical challenges in supplying the wine at pressure to some 100 points throughout the estate. Each fountain includes a heating element too, as the estate is planning to offer mulled wine in the winter for visitors to enjoy as they walk the light trail of Leonardslee Illuminated, Christmas 2021.
“We ask visitors to bring reusable plastic bottles or cups, and not breakable glassware, to fill up from the fountains, for health and safety reasons and help us protect this precious habitat, home to wildlife that is in many areas of the UK now under threat. We also of course ask our visitors to drink sensibly. Leonardslee offers a great family day out in Sussex, with the wallabies, dolls’ house museum and so much else to see.”
The wine fountains are operated by credit card payment and visitors will need to bring a driving licence or passport which can be scanned to prove that the buyer is over the permitted age for buying alcohol.
Dining and hospitality venues at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens will fully open on May 19th, when the lockdown restrictions end. The estate is now taking bookings for the Michelin Star Interlude Restaurant and for classic Afternoon Tea at Leonardslee House.
There is a programme of music, arts and crafts festivals and other events throughout the rest of 2021. The Easter Trail opens on April 2nd until 18th, and children are given an activity sheet to explore the gardens and find animals hidden in the gardens. Please check the website for event details and sign up for the free newsletter.
