Full name: Corinne Marie Seely
Role: Consultant Winemaker, Exton Park
DOB: 23rd of April
Birthplace: France
Website: http://www.extonpark.co.uk/
Fun Fact: “I really enjoy talking to everyone, and learning more about them. So I have always has an ambition to learn sign language – then I can talk to so many more and find out about their lives.”
So, let’s start at the beginning. You have had quite a particularly distinguished career as a consultant winemaker – Bordeaux, Languedoc, Douro (etc) – but could you tell us how you ended up in Hampshire (of all places…)? Did you always know you’d be a wine professional? Did you grow up in a ‘foodie’ home? (as a French person I am going to guess so…)
As you rightly guessed, I grew up in a family who likes to cook, eat, and drink – and to marry all three. I have always liked challenges. Making fine wines in England with the difficult weather we all know sounded like a good one…. I have not been disappointed! And I am enjoying it and I fell in love with the place.
I first studied Chemistry and soils at University in Paris. Inevitably, the combination of terroir and wine then drove me to study oenology afterwards.
OK, now let’s find out a little about your career at Exton Park. Once you’d arrived, Malcolm Isaac (founder at Exton Park) gave you a brief – “to make the best sparkling wine in England”. Of course, this is a very subjective title but you guys have certainly made…progress towards – that’s a LOT of gold medals achieved in a rather short time! Soooooo…how have you done it? Could you tell us a little about the strengths of the vineyard and the approach you’ve taken to winemaking here?
I like to say that it took me 25 years, 8 months and 3 days to make our famous Pinot Meunier Rose at Exton Park. It is thanks to all the people I have met and all the different terroirs I have come across around the world during all these years. All this experience has helped me to achieve my goal – which is to relay the characteristics of this unique terroir into the wine.
So far, I have never met a terroir like Exton Park. It is so chalky, with so many different aspects and exposures to the sun. This has helped massively in marrying the terroir and the wine together. And no, there is no recipe. I am not a wizard.
I assume you enjoy a glass of wine from time to time (we shared a bottle at the pub if you remember?) – but what was the best bottle of wine you ever had? And might we find you drinking anything else…are you partial to beer…spirits?
That is a complicated question as I have had the chance to taste many great wines. One of the most memorable bottles was a Niepoort Colheita 1900 port, shared with some very good friends. Something I will never forget.
Back to the question of whether I enjoy drinking anything apart from wine – I love a pint of beer from time to time. Having stayed in a pub here in England during my early days at Exton Park, I even learnt how to pour it, and to understand that each beer reacts differently. My first pouring was a disaster and made everybody laugh – which is part of my life!
What does English wine mean to you? Does England have a regional style yet? Are there any other vineyards that we should particularly be paying attention to?
English wine means innovation, freedom, challenges, and the future. There is good healthy competition between the different vineyards in England, which is rather pleasant. And there are plenty of good, and different, styles of wine in England. I do not name one vineyard above another, though, They all have their merits!
I gave a Masterclass in Bordeaux, a couple of months ago and showed a large selection of English sparkling wines. The audience may have expected them to be a pale copy of Champagne. Instead, they discovered a specific style, and even concluded that the level of acidity helped to express and develop the flavours. To their surprise, they liked our wines…!
English Sparkling Wines are entering in a new phase….recognition by the world, and to become to be a new, but important part of a winelist! We now need a generic name …ESW is not the best romantic name possible!
What’s a ‘day in your life’ like? Could you give us an insight into the wine business?
Every day is different for a “sparkling” winemaker. If you are preparing a “prise de mousse”(ie, second fermentation in bottles during which the bubbles are made), you need to look after your yeasts day and night. These are the days when you see the sunset and the sunshine….
And the sunset at Exton Park is particularly unbelievable with its superb panoramic view on the Meon Valley.
You need to like walking, because everything begins in the vineyard. We have 55 acres at Exton Park, from 120 metres above sea level to 60 m at the bottom, which is good exercise! I do not need to go to the gym…
You also need to avoid to have a cold, especially when it is the time to blend the wines, as this affects the palate. And… It is quite a challenge in England to avoid humidity..
You never get bored, that is for sure.
What’s your greatest/most memorable professional moment been, so far?
The English Wine Producers’ tasting in London this May, when our Pinot Meunier Rose won a Gold Award in the 2016 International Wine Challenge, just a week after it had been launched.. And the smile of the Vineyard Manager. We work very closely together.
With this Pinot Meunier Rose, we both wanted to show how the English terroir can be expressed. To succeed like this was very special, and an emotional moment.
Where do you get your ideas?
When I drive I guess (better not to be with me perhaps…)
More seriously, I like observing people and life in general.
You do not make a wine just for yourself but for others to enjoy too
When I thought of making our Blanc de Noir, I wanted to create a wine dedicated to England. The weather here is quite often gloomy outside but the interiors are warm, and people like to share good friendship..
I was thinking of an easy drinkable wine, full bodied and round, to share in front of fire places or barbecues. … Pinot Noir on chalk inevitably!
What’s your philosophy, summed up in a sentence?
Respect, confidence, to be, and to make, people cheerful.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had, how did you overcome it, and what did you learn from it?
To ask people to shorten their annual holidays, and come back to the vineyard early in time to pick the grapes before they ripened too much. NB: it was not in England!
That confirmed what I always felt: you cannot make a great wine without a team behind you…
Who’s the person who’s most inspired you in your work – food industry or otherwise? Is there anyone that you draw inspiration or strength from? Do you have any specific culinary influences?
I particularly admire the owner of Exton Park Vineyard, Malcolm Isaac. After having being a successful businessman, when he could have retired to enjoy his life, he decided to not only invest in a vineyard and a winery, but also to trust a team and to gamble on Non Vintages wines. It is a fantastic lesson each day for me.
My assistant winemaker is a source of inspiration. He is young and very talented. . He always has new ideas. He makes me stay awake!
I like cooking with spices. At Exton Park we have some reserve wines in barrels… We call that place “ Corinne’s spice rack”..
What do you enjoy most and least about what you do?
Each day is enjoyable and challenging.
The worse for me is to have to use a computer programme for the winery records…. And I need to, as my team do not understand my French writing notes!
What advice would you give to aspiring winemakers who’d want the kind of results that you’ve had?
That depends on what they want to achieve…but I would say:
- To be patient
- To observe
- To forgive themselves, because you need to make some errors and learn the lessons, in order to progress
- Above all, to work in, and with, the vineyard
If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing instead?
Definitively something to do with “terroir”, climate, food…. I am an epicurienne at heart..
If you could get anyone to try your wines (fictional or real, living or dead) who would you pick and which of the wines would you like them to try? Assume that they go on to be your brand ambassador…
James Bond pouring our Pinot Meunier Rose for his latest James Bond’s girl..
What’s your ultimate aim and goal for your career and Exton Park. If you could achieve anything with it, what would you pick? Money and reality are no obstacle, so shoot for the moon…
To help Exton Park to become an ambassador of the best of English wines……In a way, to develop Exton Park Vineyard and its terroir as a kind of 1st grand cru classé..
Where next for you?
Hopefully to communicate what is happening here in England with the sparkling wines, and make sure that people understand it around the world. Exton Park will help me considerably for that.
Anything I missed that you’d like to include here? (include as much or as little as you’d like)
The pleasure you give to me by taking the time to ask your very good and interesting questions. I have enjoyed answering them.
Thank you very much indeed for the opportunity.
I am thinking of making a special wine after that!
And we always ask three customary ridiculous questions…
You have acquired a pet dragon and are morally obliged to look after it. It is 25 ft tall at the hips, spits fire, eats half a ton of raw meat a day, and likes long walks. What would you call it and what would you do to keep it entertained and housed?
I will call him Jerralden The Dragon. I will put him in a big field and will try to make sure that high mirrors will be put along the hedges so that the Dragon can walk with a friend he recognises..
If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life (assume that your metabolism becomes specially adapted and this is literally the only thing you could eat) – what food would you pick and why?
Definitively bread, already one of my favourites…. You can make such different breads with full of taste, and you can live on it. Delicious also with a glass of Exton Park wine..
If you had to get into a no holds barred, 20 round fist fight with any fictional character, who would you square off against?
I always thought that it was more difficult to make and maintain peace, rather than to fight.
Joker for that one or I will take up crossed words to fight with….