Castlewood, Artefact
NATURAL / VEGAN / ORANGE / ENGLISH
An amazing and complex Bacchus from Devon. The grapes were harvested in October 2023 and fermented on their skins and with native yeasts for 21 days inside large Tuscan amphorae. It then spends a massive 11 months on the lees to develop toasty, biscuity flavours and a lovely weight on the palate, alongside the ample tannins stemming from the skin-contact.
Expect bags of citrus aromas, such as bloody orange and grapefruit, as well as almond blossom & red pepper. On the palate, the fruit is concentrated with gentle, refreshing acidity.
- Origin: Devon, England, UK
- Producer: Castlewood Vineyard
- Vintage: 2023
- Grape varieties: Bacchus
- Food pairings: Rich seafood, Pork, Curry and Spicy foods, Goat Cheese
- Bottle size: 75cl
- ABV: 10.82%
Flavour Profile
This is an aromatic, textural Bacchus with bright citrus fruit, crunchy orchard notes, and subtle floral aromatics. Skin contact adds grip and structure, while the long lees ageing brings toasty, nutty, biscuity depth. The acidity is refreshing but balanced, giving the wine a moreish, food-friendly feel.
About Castlewood
Castlewood is a tiny, independent estate in East Devon known for pushing boundaries in English winemaking. They work with low-intervention methods, hand harvesting, wild ferments, and minimal additions, letting each vintage speak for itself. Their wines are small-batch, expressive, and often made in unusual vessels like amphorae or concrete eggs, making them some of the most exciting bottles coming out of the UK right now.
About the Artefact Method
“Artefact” is Castlewood’s experimental amphora-fermented Bacchus, created using extended skin contact and wild fermentation. The wine spends almost a full year ageing on its lees inside Tuscan amphorae, developing texture, savouriness, and depth rarely seen in English Bacchus. It’s a style that sits between aromatic white and skin-contact wine.
How to Pair It
This vintage is brilliant with rich seafood (crab, scallops, brown butter prawns), spicy dishes like Thai curries, aromatic Indian plates, grilled pork, and creamy goat’s cheese. The wine’s citrus lift and tannic grip make it especially good with fatty, fragrant, or lightly spicy food.
Delivery and returns
What are the delivery options?
- Local Delivery (E17, E10 postcodes): Free over £35
- Click & Collect: Free
- Standard Delivery: £8.95 (Free over £80)
Where can I get my order delivered?
- Local Delivery is available within London E17 and E10 postcodes.
- Click & Collect orders can be picked up at our shop located at 149 Forest Rd, E17 6HE.
When will my order arrive?
- Next day service is available for local and standard deliveries (subject to availability).
- All orders placed by midnight will be dispatched the next working day.
Why do I need to pay for returns?
- If returning your order by mail, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping cost.
- You may return your purchase within 30 days if you are unsatisfied for any reason.
How do I return my order?
- Free returns are available if you return your order to our store.
- If returning by mail, you may ship back the item using the carrier of your choice.
