1st October

A TRIUMPH IN ITALY FOR ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE

CAMEL VALLEY IN TOP THREE IN THE WORLD SPARKLING WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS

It is no longer a surprise when English sparkling wines achieve success in international competitions.  Each competition award reinforces England as one of the top sparkling wine regions in the world.

This was emphasized last week when Camel Valley Vineyard from Cornwall triumphed in the first ever World Championship of Traditional Method Sparkling Wine, which took place in Italy on September 18th in Verona, and was voted one of the top three winners alongside two Champagnes.

Some 60 wines from around the world were entered in to this new competition aimed at top quality sparkling wines, organised by leading Italian wine magazine Euposìa-La Rivista del Vino.   Illustrating the many wine regions that now produce this style of sparkling wine, entries were submitted from as far afield as South America, Moldova, Greece, South Africa, Australia, Russia and Israel, as well as closer to home with France, Italy, Spain and England.

In the line up of the “World Top 20”, as voted by the judging panel, Camel Valley White Pinot 2005 came second place after Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée, beating Champagne Deutz Brut Classic in to third position.

The jury of 9 judges included sommeliers and wine journalists from around Europe, and chaired by the President of the Grand Jury Europeen, Francois Mauss. 

 “I am thrilled to have our wine ranked up there in the top three aongside 2 Champagnes,” commented Bob Lindo, proprietor of Camel Valley Vineyard.  “Eat your heart out world!”

30th September

NEW ITV SHOW 'TASTE THE NATION' LOOKING FOR CONTESTANTS

Taste the Nation, is a nationwide knockout competition that will pit amateur chefs from 32 counties around Britain against each other in a battle of culinary brilliance, as they compete to be the best regional team in the nation.

Contestants in the competition will have the chance to be mentored by top chefs from their region who will teach them to create classic British dishes with a modern twist. The series aims to showcase the best of regional cooking, and the regional produce that Britain has to offer.

ITV are looking for the keenest amateur cooks in every county to take part, particularly those who are proud of their region and its food.

If you think you are up to the challenge, link through to ITV to find out more:

http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/Food/TastetheNation/

29th September

INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL SPARKLING WINE SYMPOSIUM TO TAKE PLACE AT DENBIES WINE ESTATE

24th September

BOOK AHEAD FOR THE ENGLISH WINE EVENING AT ARTISAN & VINE

Enjoy a host of other events and attractions

As many now know, artisan&vine is a new wine bar in Battersea that specializes in local and natural wines, including some English wines from vineyards around the country and now boasts a wine shop.  We have featured some of the vineyard tours that a&v have organised.

All of the 120+ wines they sell and serve are:

1. Local – grapes grown & wine made within 2hour drive of Battersea; or

2. Natural – biodynamic or organic, low yielding vineyards; minimal or no added sulphite; indigenous yeasts; no added flavours or preservatives.

All of the listed wines are available to drink in the bar or to take home at reduced off licence prices.

Current specials and upcoming events:

1. DRINK IN THE BAR AT OFF-LICENCE PRICES – EVERY DAY 5PM-7PM

2. LOYALTY CARD - BUY 5 WINES, GET 1 FREE

Will be available from 7 October. Have it stamped every time you buy a bottle of wine at full bar price & receive a sixth bottle for free (sixth bottle up to the value of £25/bottle).

3. WEDNESDAY EVENING WINE TASTINGS

Every Wednesday 6pm-9pm A&V host a fixed price wine tasting with matched food. The evening includes 5 samples (50ml) of different premium wines with a range of carefully selected foods. Advance bookings advisable, £20/person. 

THERE'S STILL TIME TO BOOK THE ENGLISH WINE TASTING ON 15TH OCTOBER!!

Upcoming degustation evenings are:

24/9 – Spain: Bid bold reds, rich fruity whites – sample the best Spain has to offer.

1/10 – Italy: Always distinctive, ever inventive – taste a range of unique Italian grapes.

8/10 – New world wines: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile – taste how the new world is taking on the European trends in natural wine making & succeeding!

15/10 – England: light, refreshing, floral – English gardens in a bottle! Have a taste of home.

22/10 – a&v favourites: every member of the a&v team has a favourite

29/10 – French biodynamic wines: focus on unusual indigenous grapes – varieties such as Carignan, Marsanne and Ondenc – a wonderful exploration of the unexpected.

4.THURSDAY EVENING LIVE JAZZ

Fantastic local live jazz acts play at a&v from 8pm-11pm every Thursday. Free admission.

More information about events and offers is available at www.artisanandvine.com.

8th September

AN EXPERT GUIDE TO ORGANIC VITICULTURE

Notwithstanding the current inclement UK weather conditions, there has for some time been an increasing interest among farmers, fruit growers, land owners and private individuals alike, in the cultivation of grapes. Only just recently this interest was further stimulated by a documentary on BBC Radio 4 which reported on the high yield per Hectare figure and consequent profits that could be expected from such a venture.

Anyone considering growing grapes, might initially like to read about it in a four part series which Roy Cook of Sedlescombe Vineyard is publishing on his Company’s website.  The series is extracted from a section he is writing in a new book ‘Organic fruit production and viticulture – a complete guide’ to be published in Spring 2009 by Garden Organic (formerly Henry Doubleday Research Association –HDRA) and edited by Stella Cubison.

Roy, who initially started grape cultivation on four inherited acres of land in East Sussex in 1979, is the owner of England’s oldest and largest organic vineyard. With over 28 years of experience, he is now finding that much of his time taken up in providing a consultancy service on the subject.

Entitled “An Introduction to Organic Viticulture” the four part series gives the prospective grower an insight into site selection and preparation, layout, grape type selection, pruning, feeding and disease control.  The first part, which deals mainly with site preparation forms part of Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard’s latest Newsletter which available on its website www.EnglishOrganicWine.co.uk  or by e-mail to roycook@EnglishOrganicWine.co.uk.

7th September

HARVEST STARTS AT STRAWBERRY HILL

The first grapes of the year have been harvested at Strawberry Hill Vineyard, Newent, Gloucestershire  with a whopping 2 tons of the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir all for production of Strawberry Hill’s increasingly popular   “Premium Sparkling”.

More Pinot Noir will be harvested in the next 10 days, solely for  sparkling production, when sugar and acid test levels reach what is required .

Strawberry Hill Vineyard intends to produce ever finer English sparkling wines and has committed to expand  production of its ‘Premium Sparkling’ wine made with traditional Champagne grapes and in the traditional Champagne method.

26th  August

COURSE DATES FOR COMING YEAR AT PLUMPTON

The full range of full- and part-time courses in viticulture and winemaking for 2008/2009 are now available.

Three full-time wine courses are currently being offered at Plumpton College, with a  teaching team which is well-qualified and experienced.

• The Foundation Degree (FdA) in Wine Business course is designed specifically for students wishing to enter the wine trade or start their own wine-related business.  It combines both practical and theoretical understanding of the wine industry with valuable work experience, including visits to European vineyards. The course focuses on marketing, the wine trade and business planning and development, plus modules that correspond to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma syllabus.

• The Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Wine Production is a two-year full-time programme, which is unique in the United Kingdom.  It has a strong practical bias and involves students in producing Plumpton College’s award-winning wine, using the College’s well-equipped commercial vineyard and purpose-built winery.  

• The BSc (Hons) Viticulture & Oenology covers wine production and aspects of related biological sciences in considerable depth.

A range of part time courses is also availalbe:

Plumpton will be hosting open days to find out more about the college and the courses available, and offer an opportunity to see the facilities and meet the tutorial teams.

   
• Saturday 8th November 2008, 9am-12.30pm: Information Morning, meet the staff and discuss your own course requirements.
•  Saturday 9 May 2009: Open Day
 

More information from Plumpton College: www.plumpton.ac.uk

4th August

CELEBRITY CHEF RICHARD PHILLIPS AND CHAPEL DOWN WINES LAUNCH EXCITING NEW RESTAURANT IN THE HEART OF KENT

Celebrity TV Chef, Richard Phillips has joined forces with Chapel Down wines in Kent to launch a restaurant with a menu that perfectly fits with the best award winning English wines in the country.  Richard who can be seen regularly on 'Ready Steady Cook', and ITV’s Daily Cooks, is looking forward to establishing ‘Richard Phillips @ Chapel Down’ as one of the premiere eateries in the South East.

The restaurant, a £1m investment on the site of Chapel Down’s famous vineyard in Tenterden, Kent, sees the introduction of state of the art kitchen facilities along with the very best in dining comfort in a spectacularly beautiful setting. The food and wine aims to bring a new dimension to eating out in Kent with customers encouraged to experiment and enjoy a completely original Kentish experience.

Diners will also have the opportunity to eat and drink at the new ‘Chef’s table’.  The Chef’s table is unique experience for patrons to enjoy a personal service from the chef and his team.

Richard, who already runs two highly successful restaurants with Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells and The Hengist at Aylesford, sees the opening of the restaurant at Chapel Down as an opportunity to accelerate the trend towards great British cooking, using local products and premium English Wines in creative and mouth-watering combinations.

Richard commented. “Good restaurants outside London remain few and far between. Kent, however, is going through a significant transformation.  What we are creating at Chapel Down will be a catalyst for an acceleration of the trend towards great local food, imaginatively prepared and served and complimented by Kent’s own wonderful Chapel Down wines.  It’s a restaurant for the whole of Kent to feel proud about.”

Richard Philips @ Chapel Down opened last week (31st July) and is now taking reservations. Visit their website here.

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22nd July

THE UK WINE INDUSTRY TOASTS THE WINNERS IN THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION

The cream of the UK wine industry gathered at the House of Lords to toast the many winners in this year's English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition.  Owners and winemakers from across the country attended the tasting of the top winning wines followed by lunch and the awards ceremony, where the United Kingdom Vineyards Association President, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, presented certificates for medals and trophies to the winners.

Patricia Stefanowicz MW, Chairman of the Judges in this year's competition remarked to the assembled guests on the quality of the wines that were submitted this year.  The Chairman of the UKVA, Bob Lindo of Camel Valley, whose son Sam scooped a number of trophies and medals, also delivered encouraging words to winemakers in his speech.

The event was also attended by wine trade luminaries such as Michael Broadbent MW and John Avery MW. 

A full list of the award winners can be viewed here

Three Choirs Winners and their trophies (Martin Fowke, Winemaker of the Year 2008 on Right)

The Award Winning Lindo Family from Camel Valley

A jubilant Denbies Team

(Winemaker Marcus Sharp 2nd Left) 

Wickham Vineyard Winemaker                            Richard & Sian Liwicki of Bothy Vineyard

Winner of Oaked White Trophy                                   Winners of The Berwick Trophy

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4th July

LUXURY CRUISE LINER TO BE LAUNCHED WITH BOTTLE OF ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE

Classical musician, singer and presenter Myleene Klass will next week be launching the biggest passenger ship to sail from Dover Cruise Port with a bottle of English sparkling wine.  She will have a spectacular bottle-breaking “assist” from Royal Navy divers when she performs her first-ever Ship’s Godmother duties by officially naming the 113,000 tonne Carnival Splendor.

The wine will be broken on Myleen's command by Petty Officer Christian Rumming, assisted by a Royal Navy dive team, who will climb 60 ft up the vessel from underwater to the Carnival Splendor’s name on the top of her bow and smash a bottle of highly acclaimed 1994 vintage Nyetimber English sparkling wine against the hull.   The celebrity musician will be playing live classical piano music on the ship’s top Lido deck.

In breaking with tradition, the bottle of Nyetimber was chosen by Carnival to emphasise their selection of Britain to launch their largest and latest superliner.

Myleene Klass said, “Not only am I excited about launching my first-ever ship with the Carnival Splendor, but also I am  so looking forward to working with the Royal Navy men who seem to be under my command - if only for a couple of minutes! I plan to give PO Chris Rumming the start signal by playing some classical music on Carnival Splendor’s baby grand piano.” 

Carnival Cruise Lines President and CEO Gerry Cahill said, “Myleene Klass and the Royal Navy are a unique combination, and we are very honoured that they are joining forces to successfully name the Carnival Splendor.”

Carnival Splendor offers a comprehensive selection of restaurants, show-stopping entertainment, four swimming pools, a 5,500 sq ft children’s play area and Carnival’s largest ever floating spa featuring a thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite and 17 treatment rooms.

Immediately after its Naming Ceremony, Carnival Splendor sets sail for a three day preview cruise to Amsterdam, returning to Dover on July 13, when it will depart on the same day for its official inaugural 12-day cruise to the Baltic countries, visiting Copenhagen; Warnemunde (for Berlin); Helsinki; St Petersburg; Tallinn and Amsterdam.

A video replay of the Carnival Splendor Naming Ceremony can be viewed beginning July 10 at www.carnival.com/splendor.

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4th July

ROYAL VISIT TO AWARD WINNING CORNISH VINEYARD

When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visit the Duchy on Thursday 10th July, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall will pay a visit to Camel Valley Vineyard near Bodmin.

The idea for the vineyard visit began when Cornishman David Brewer was Lord Mayor  of London and arranged a Cornish produce event at Leadenhall Market, which the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall attended.  They both showed great interest in the Cornish wines Sam Lindo was showing.  At the time he gave them a leaflet about the vineyard and invited them to visit Camel Valley.  ‘I never dreamed they’d take me up on the invitation, and it’s a great honour that they have.’

Sam Lindo – last year's ‘Winemaker of the Year’ – will show Her Royal Highness round the winery, and demonstrate  the disgorging process he uses to make Camel Valley traditional method sparkling wine.  The bottle of ‘Cornwall’ will then be labelled and presented to Her Royal Highness to take home.  Sam says ‘I hope the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will enjoy drinking ‘Cornwall.’

Still very much a family concern, Camel Valley’s founders Bob and Annie Lindo will show the Duchess the vineyards and give a brief talk on vine growing.   Her Royal Highness will then meet the rest of the family and staff, and join neighbours for a Cornish lunch and wine tasting on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. 

‘Who could have imagined when we first planted vines twenty years ago that a member of the Royal family would ever visit us?’ said Bob Lindo.  ‘We’re all very pleased to welcome such a distinguished guest to our quiet little corner of the Cornish countryside, and I’m so pleased to have been able to include our neighbours and supporters in on the  visit, especially those who’ve flown over from Japan for the day!  We’ve won many prestigious awards over the years, and I consider this visit to be one of them.’

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3rd July

VITICULTURAL FOCUS AT FRUIT GROWERS SHOW

The spotlight will be on viticulture and winemaking at this year's fruit growers' show Fruit Focus.  For the first time this trade show will incorporate a dedicated Vines to Wines section, introducing all budding viticulturists to the UK wine industry and the many opportunities and support that are now available. 

The initiative is jointly sponsored by United Kingdom Vineyards Association and English Wine Producers, and will include a series of indepth seminars covering many aspects to the industy, from grape to glass.  Wine consultant Angela Mount and English specialist Stephen Skelton MW will lead the talks which will include routes to market, and what is involved in setting up a vineyard alongside other relevant subjects covered.  Plumpton College, whose Wine Studies Centre is the only one of its kind in the UK and offers a wide range of courses in viticulture and winemaking will also be exhibiting, along with a number of suppliers to the industry. 

For anyone seriously interested in coming in to the UK  wine industry, this is a must.  Further information is avaible from Fruit Focus.

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2nd July

PRINCE OF WALES’S CAR FUELLED BY ENGLISH WINE?

There were reports in some of the national and international press yesterday that the Prince of Wales is using, amongst other ingredients, English wines.  

The press reports vary from the fuel being made ‘entirely from English wine’ (The Telegraph) to ‘fuel made from cheese and wine’ (The Times), to ‘an excess local vintage produced by English wine makers’ (CNN.com).    The news has attracted global attention over the last 3 days.

Contrary to what was inferred, the English wine used in the production of bio fuel was not from surplus supplies that exceeded EU quotas on wine production.   The wine was spoilt stock that was therefore unsaleable.   

Bob Lindo, Chairman of UK Vineyards Association, commented: “I contacted the Palace and the PR Company involved and, having acknowledged their misinterpretation, they promptly printed a retraction. 

“The English wine industry strives to produce wines to the highest standard,” added Bob Lindo.   “Such is the high demand for English wine at the moment that many vineyards simply do not have enough to sell.

“The original statement should have made it clear that the wine used was a waste product.  We quite accept this was an honest mistake and we appreciate this speedy retraction.”

Decanter.com quotes Stephen Skelton MW: 'The story is rubbish. "'There is no surplus of English wine and we don't belong to the European distillation regime."

Replying to bulletin board jibes that English wine 'must taste like petrol', Skelton said, 'We are as good as anywhere else in the world'.

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2nd July

CAMEL VALLEY RETAINS SPARKLING WINE TROPHY IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Yet again Cornwall’s Camel Valley Vineyard beat stiff competition to gain a record four trophies in this year’s English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition.  Additionally, Camel Valley took three gold medals and a string of silvers and bronzes, some for wines not yet released for sale.

Camel Valley won the Vintners Trophy for the Best Sparkling Wine for the second consecutive year, as well as the Dudley Quirk Memorial Trophy for the best large production wine for its Bacchus 2006, and the Montagu Trophy for the best presented wine.  In addition, the President's Trophy for the best small production wine was also awarded to Camel Valley.  These trophies confirmed Camel Valley’s reputation as the UK’s most consistent sparkling wine producer.

Sam Lindo, 2007 Winemaker of the Year, said he was delighted with the results: ‘This year’s awards have exceeded our wildest expectations.  To achieve such success for a second year running shows real consistency in our winemaking skills.’

Bob Lindo, co-founder of Camel Valley, said he and wife Annie were thrilled by the results.  ‘We’re still a small family run business, and this has been a real boost to our hard working staff.  A lot of big money is coming in to the English vineyard business now, but these results show that it’s hard work and a dedication to perfection that really matter.  We’ve got a royal visit soon, so we’re looking forward to showcasing our award winning wines to HRH the Duchess of Cornwall on our home ground next week  (further information on this visit here)

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1st July

AROMATIC STILL WHITE STYLE LEADS THE WINNERS

IN THIS YEAR’S UK NATIONAL COMPETITION

A still white wine has truimphed as Wine of the Year in this year's English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition for the first time since 1999.  Although England adn Wales are now acknowledged leading sparkling wine producers, it is perhaps a timely reminder that this country also produces some uniquely attractive still white wines, particularly from aromatic varieties.

The competition took place at Brightwell Vineyard in Oxfordshire on 26th and 27th June, with a top team of judges, chaired by Patricia Stefanowicz MW and comprising Julian Brind MW, Anthony Foster MW, Maggie McNie MW, Alastair Peebles MW, Stephen Skelton MW and David Wrigley MW.

This year’s national competition saw an impressively high number of entries.  More gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded than in the previous two years, with a good number awarded to 2007 vintage wines, showing that despite the difficult vintage and low volume, the quality is high.  2006 vintage wines also showed well, illustrating that a year in bottle has allowed the wines time to show their inherent quality.  The sparkling wines did not disappoint, with some impressive trophies and gold medals awarded, proving once again the consistently high quality coming from English and Welsh sparkling producers.   2 gold medals were awarded each to Nyetimber and Ridgeview, and last year’s highest award-winner Camel Valley continued their success by scooping three gold medals as well as the trophy for Best Sparkling Wine, which was awarded to their “Cornwall” White Pinot 2005.

The aromatic still white category surpassed many expectations, with Bacchus showing top form by winning two trophies, and securing its reputation as a quality grape variety ideally suited to the UK and producing a consistently appealing style.  Other aromatic varieties such as Ortega and Schönburger also earned a good number of awards, both as single varietals and in blends.  “Bacchus, along with these other aromatic varieties, has earned true recognition for producing a very successful style in the UK,”  commented Patricia Stefanowicz.

The winner this year is Three Choirs Vineyards, whose Estate Reserve Siegerrebe 2006 won the Gore-Browne Trophy (‘Wine of the Year’) and fittingly the Tom Day Trophy for Best Varietal Wine.  Tom Day was involved with Three Choirs Vineyards when it was first set up in the early 1970’s.  Siegerrebe is another intensely aromatic variety which produces outstanding wines when grown on the right site.

Other notable results were the high scoring medals awarded to the few late harvest wines that were entered, with Eglantine’s North Star 2004 scooping gold, repeating its top medal success in the French competition Vinalies earlier in the year, and three silver medals in this category awarded to other producers Bothy, Astley and Three Choirs.

A significant accolade goes to Wickham Vineyard in Hampshire, which wins the McNie Trophy for Best Oaked Wine for the second year in a row for their latest Special Release Fumé.

Rosé continues to prove a popular style, clocking up 27 medals.  Acknowledging this category is the Waitrose Rosé Trophy, which this year has been awarded to Denbies Wine Estate for their still Rose Hill 2007.  The best red wine once again went to a single varietal Pinot Noir, from Titchfield Vineyard in Hampshire.

The accolade of Winemaker of the Year recognises the significant contribution that winemakers in the UK make towards the quality of English and Welsh wines.  This year’s acknowledged winner is Martin Fowke of Three Choirs Vineyards.

A full list of the winners is available here.

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30th June

FORTNUM & MASON SPARKLE THIS SUMMER WITH CAMEL VALLEY

First own label English Sparkling wine for leading London store

Cornwall’s leading vineyard, Camel Valley, has developed Fortnum & Mason’s first ever own label English sparkling wine .

Camel Valley has produced just 3,000 bottles for the shelves of the world renowned food and drink emporium. This fresh yet vibrant fizz has elegant fruity aromas providing the perfect partner to this season’s British strawberries, light canapés and, indeed, any al fresco appetiser.

Bob Lindo, owner of Camel Valley Vineyard explans: “It has been a fantastic experience teaming up with Fortnum & Mason. We pride ourselves that year on year the vineyard continues to produce top quality wines. To be recognised by Fortnum & Mason is a huge honour, and provides us the opportunity to supply our sparkling wine to an international audience.”

The sparkling wine is made by Sam Lindo, named UK winemaker of the Year 2007, using a blend of grapes; Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe. This decadent sparkling is then aged on lees* for 18 months. The long growing season helps to create delicate and subtle aromas maintained through careful practice in the winery

Tim French, wine buyer for Fortnum & Mason adds: “The English sparkling wine market is growing and we are seeing more and more wineries successfully competing against the more established international competition. We decided to work with Camel Valley as they stood out as a leader of England’s developing sparkling wine industry. It is exciting times for English sparkling wine and we are delighted to champion the finest examples at Fortnum’s.”

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20th June

AN OPPORTUNITY TO TASTE OVER 100 ENGLISH & WELSH WINES FROM THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL COMPETITION

Artisan & Vine have organised a trip for London-based wine enthusiasts to taste over 100 of the UK's premier wines.

This tasting event follows the judging of this year's English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition.

The trip starts at St John's Hill in London, taking a coach to Brightwell's 14 acre vineyard near Wallingford in Oxfordshire.  The day will include a tutorial on tasting and judging, followed by sampling of 100 wines from this year's national competition. 

Lunch and a complementary bottle of Brightwell wine to take home are also included in the ticket price, which is £55 per person

For further information or to book tickets please contact Artisan  & Wine.

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19th June

UK's OWN NATIONAL COMPETITION TAKES PLACE NEXT WEEK

The 2008 English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition judging takes place next Thursday and Friday (26th and 27th June). This year's hosts are Brightwell Vineyard in Oxfordshire.

The team of eminent judges is chaired by Patricia Stefanowicz MW and comprises Stephen Skelton, Anthony Foster, Julian Brind, Maggie McNie, David Wrigley and Alastair Peebles.

An impressive 200 wines have been entered in to this year's competition. The wines will be tasted in style and category order and the results will be announced on or about Monday 30th June. Who will win the coveted accolade of Wine of the Year - Gore-Browne Trophy - and who will be named Winemaker of the Year?  There is some stiff competition.  Watch this space!

There is an opportunity to taste some 100 wines from the competition on Saturday 28th June.  London-based company Artisan & Vine are organising a day visit to Brightwell.  The ticket price includes transport to the vineyard, a talk on the competition, lunch and a bottle of Brightwell wine to take home.  For more information contcact Artisan & Vine direct.

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16th June

DENBIES WINES SELECTED FOR US PRESIDENT'S DINNER

Denbies Bacchus 2004 was served at Number 10 Downing Street on Sunday evening at a dinner held in honour of President Bush.  In the company of the Prime Minister, the President of the USA, cabinet members , leading historians and two of France’s finest wines from Bordeaux (Chateau Gruaud-Larose and Chateau Coutet), the Bacchus was served to accompany a Trio of Smoked Salmon and cherry tomato salad.

It has become customary for an English white wine to be served at Number 10.

‘What an honour’, commented Denbies Wine maker, Marcus Sharp, who made the wine, ‘2004 was an exceptionally good year for ripening aromatic varieties and this was a particularly herbaceous wine .’

The 2004 Bacchus came from an exceptionally good batch of grapes from the south facing slopes in the dell area of the Denbies Estate.   Following the outstanding quality of last year’s harvest, Denbies has just released a 2007 Bacchus.

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13th June

TOP AWARD TO ASTLEY VINEYARD IN REGIONAL COMPETITION

Upmarket county magazine Worcestershire Life hosted its Food & Drink Awards last night.  Celebrating the great produce that Worcestershire has to offer, these prestigious awards covered entries from all walks of food and drink, from cider and cheese to asparagus and wine.  The awards are sponsored by Waitrose and local businesses.

The 2008 winners of the Best Food & Drink Producer are Astley Vineyards, based near Stourport-on-Severn.  Astley produces a range of still and sparkling white wine, including a late harvest wine.

Astley's wines consistently win awards at national and even international level.  Owned and run by Jonty Daniels and Janet Baldwin, the wines are availble direct from the vineyard (tel: 01299 822907) or through local outlets.

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1st June

CHAMPAGNE VS DEVON SPARKLING WINE

Blind Tasting Organised for Devon Wine Week

As part of Devon Wine Week, the Devon Wine School held a blind tasting at Redyeates Farm on Wednesday 28th May 2008 to see how Devon’s sparkling wines performed alongside the world’s benchmark sparkling wine region.  The answer was really very well.

The panel tasted 8 wines, 4 wines from 3 local vineyards in Devon and 4 wines from the Champagne region in north-east France, including the top houses of Moët & Chandon and Pol Roger. 

The panel chairman Jan Critchley-Salmonson, Master of Wine, said afterwards “We found it quite difficult to identify the Champagnes from the traditionally made Devon sparkling wines, which gives you an indication of the greatly improved quality of the local wines”.

The wines and results are as follows: 

All wines were tasted blind in the order above.  The marking system used was:

GOLD      90-100    Outstanding example, setting the standard

SILVER    80-89.5  Fine example, excellent quality

BRONZE  75-79.9  Good Example, well above average

66 -74.9    Good but not award worthy

50-65.9     Adequate

The panel of tasters were:

Jan Critchley-Salmonson Master of Wine, (Chair)

Andy Whiteman (owner of the Nobody Inn, Doddiscombsleigh and the Harris Arms 

                           Lewdown)

Richard Hartley (owner of the Culm Valley Inn, Culmstock)

Mark Butler        (Cellarmarque Wines Ltd)

The tasting was organised and administered by Alastair Peebles MBA MW, proprietor of the Devon Wine School.

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21st May

ENGLAND CELEBRATES IMPRESSIVE NUMBER OF AWARDS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

The results of the three UK-based international competitions were announced yesterday, and England has done better than ever, scooping a total of 87 awards between them.

The International Wine Challenge announced a gold medal win for Hush Heath Estate's Balfour Brut 2004, the first wine produced from this sparkling wine estate in Kent.  The overall results for England showed a continued improving form (10 medals in 2005, 16 in 2006, 21 in 2007 and this year 22 medals). Despite the exceptionally wet weather last year, the 2007 vintage still proved to be of good quality with 7 Bronze medals awarded.

The International Wine & Spirit Competition confirmed that England proved its quality, with a staggering 96% of English wines walking away with a medal, including a Gold 'Best in Class' which was awarded to Nyetimber Vineyard Classic Cuvee 2001. A further 8 Silver 'Best in Class' and 16 Bronze medals were awarded.

More English wines were entered this year in to the Decanter World Wine Awards, and gained an impressive 19 awards, including 2 Silver and 5 Bronze medals.

All these competitions judge to the highest standard and have an impressive list of judges, who taste all the wines blind.  Vineyards across the country are certainly raising a few glasses in celebration.

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10th May

NEW BOOK ON ENGLISH WINES PUBLISHED IN TIME FOR ENGLISH WINE WEEK

The first of three books on English wines and vineyards to be published this year has just been launched, in time for English Wine Week.

Grape Britain by David Harvey has been meticulously researched over 2 years and brings together a tour of Britain’s Vineyards in a lavishly illustrated 256-page book that will be popular with the growing number of UK wine enthusiasts and vineyard visitors alike.  Further information on the book is available here

The author will be attending a launch at Mostly Books in Abingdon on Friday 23rd May, which will be accompanied by a wine tasting of local vineyard Bothy and nibbles - tickets £5.00.

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9th May

CHAPEL DOWN'S CEO WINS NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARD

Frazer Thompson, the Managing Director of England's largest producer Chapel Down Wines in Kent, has been crowned Chief Executive of the Year at an awards ceremony hosted by members of a new London stock exchange.

He won the accolade at the Plus Investors Awards 2008 on 29th April in London. Plus Investors is a quote-driven stock exchange for small businesses, trading more than 1,000 British companies with a combined market capital of £195 billion.

Frazer has been with Chapel Down Wines since 2001 since when he has overseen the development of the Chapel Down label to become one of the leading English wine brands. The company continues to expand and recently announced healthy profits. 

Frazer is also chairman of Kent Institute of Directors, and . He also a non–executive director of Business Link Kent and a member of the Kent Economic Board.

After picking up his trophy, Mr Thompson said: “It was a great surprise and honour to win."

Source: Kentnews.co.uk

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8th May

ENGLISH WINE WEEK IS NEARLY HERE!

Towards the end of May, English Wine Week will be taking place, with lots of activities and offers taking place all across the country. 

English Wine Week is a countrywide campaign to promote English wines and vineyards, an initiative started by the English wine industry itself some five years ago, organised by English Wine Producers and co-sponsored by Food from Britain.    During the week, vineyards across the country will be opening their doors to welcome visitors and offer a variety of activities, including tours, tastings and sales or hosting special events.  English Wine Week will also be supported by wine merchants, farm shops, delicatessens, hotels, pubs and restaurants with their own promotions of English wines.  

This year there is a wide variety of activities, from a special day at Denbies learning to make cheese and blend your own wine, to belly dancing at Sharpham Vineyard in Devon!

Full listings and news on what’s happening in vineyards, wine merchants, retail outlets, hotels and restaurants are all available on the English Wine Week website.

VISIT VINOPOLIS FOR ENGLISH WINE WEEK PREVIEW

English Wine Week kicks off early at Vinopolis in London, with a special preview fortnight starting today, when visitors are invited to taste 3 top white wines and 3 sparkling wines absolutely free as part of the tour *

Guests will be asked to rate the wines and afterwards hear the opinions of revered wine experts including Oz Clarke, Jancis Robinson, Robert Joseph, Charles Metcalfe, Andrew Jefford, Susy Atkins, Stephen Skelton and other top names. During the tour guests will enjoy an English Wine section where they can learn about the growers, how to appreciate English wine, each wine’s provenance plus the vineyard’s location so they can pay a visit during English Wine Week.

As a celebration of English wines, all English Wine tasting guests will be entered into a draw to win a VIP ticket to Matt Skinner’s ‘Meet the Expert’ session on 17th May at Vinopolis. The winner will taste premium wines with Matt, have a Q&A session and receive other sought after goodies.

*English Wines will be available to taste during the tour, not exclusively. After 2pm there will be a charge of £4 for 6 tastings to sample the English wines.

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7th May

NEW WEBSITE FOR RIDGEVIEW

Ridgeview Wine Estate has just launched their new look website.  www.ridgeview.co.uk outlines the story of Ridgeview and their wines, and  is packed with other essential background information about this producer.

To help you track down your favourite Ridgeview wine there is a comprehensive list of where to buy, and you can update yourself on the many awards they have won over the years.  The website will be regularly updated with latest news and press releases, as well as events taking place – so you need never be out of touch with this award-winning producer and their wines again.

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2nd May

ENGLISH WINES ON OZ CLARKE WEBSITE

The theme for May on Oz Clarke’s website is ENGLISH WINES, celebrating English Wine Week 2008 24th May – 1st June.
 
Oz features background history and information on English wines – all you need to know, in a nutshell!  The Oz Clarke website also outlines his range of books, a perfect way to treat yourself or the wine enthusiast in your life.

www.ozclarke.com

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15th April

TESCO GOES LOCAL

Tesco has launched a small range of English and Welsh wines that is available in selected Tesco stores local to the vineyards. The five wines - which include a sparkling, red, rosé and two whites - join the five English and Welsh wines currently listed in Tesco.

Over the last 12 months, Tesco has created eight regional buying offices, designed to source and support local farms and producers; the five new additions signal Tesco’s intent to offer local produce to local customers across all forms, including supporting burgeoning UK wineries.

Hampshire producer, Wickham, was awarded a listing following its victory in the Tesco Drinks Awards for its Wickham Celebration Rosé. Retailing at £6.99, the wine will be available in 14 local Hampshire stores. Essex-based winery, Sandyford, has two new local listings: Sandyford Clover Hill White and Sandyford Special Reserve Red, available at £8.60 and £8.99 respectively. They will both be available in 13 stores around the Essex and Cambridgeshire areas.

Carr Taylor's still dry whiteEstate was established in 1971 by David and Linda Carr Taylor. Its flagship dry white, Alexis, will be available priced at £6.95 in four stores in the Sussex area. Additionally Welsh producer, Glyndwr,  will have its Welsh Sparkling available four stores in Cardiff, Swansea and Carmarthen, price £14.99.

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28th March

EXPERIENCE THE LUXURY OF A LODGE AT THREE CHOIRS VINEYARD

Three Choirs are building new lodge rooms in the heart of the vineyard combine luxurious accommodation with a haven of peace and tranquillity in leafy Gloucestershire.  These wooden lodges will be opening in June and are stuated just 500 metres from the main vineyard buildings, in the heart of the vineyard and overlooking the string of ponds in the valley below the restaurant.

Each lodge is separated from its neighbour by several rows of vines.  They all have a double bedroom with king size bed and a bathroom with both a large bath and separate shower. All lodges also have an inviting veranda which runs around two sides of the building, giving the choice of sun or shade.

Each morning a breakfast hamper is delivered to the doorstep and guests who fancy a cooked breakfast the lodges are a short stroll from the vineyard restaurant which can also be booked for lunch and dinner.  If eating al fresco is more up your street, the vineyard can also provide barbeque packs for those who want to immerse themselves fully in the beauty of their surroundings.

A stay in the lodge, or in their main 8-room hotel could be combined with one of Three Vineyard Experience Days, which offer the chance to find out what it really is like to work as a winemaker!  The day starts at 10am with tea and coffee in the winery.  From here you will don your Three Choirs overalls and boots and venture in to the vineyard to help with whatever tasks are required depending on the time of year. This may be pruning, canopy management, shoot rubbing, trellising repairs or even a spot of grape picking.

On return to the winery mid-morning enjoy a tutored wine tasting with one of the wine makers, followed by a 3-course lunch in the Vineyard restaurant. Your host will choose suitable wines to accompany the meal and will explain how they were made.

After lunch it is back to the winery and the opportunity to help in various areas of wine production - this may be on the bottling line, labelling, filtering or monitoring fermentations.

Finally at the end of the day you can choose 2 bottles of wine to take away with you and you will receive an “Apprentice Winemaker” certificate!

All bookings are taken at www.threechoirs.com

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25th March

WINE MERCHANT IS RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY WITH THE HELP OF ENGLISH WINES

Your support is needed - please read on ..

From April 25th 2008, Henry Butler of Butlers Wine Cellars and Andy Martin will ride a tandem bike from the English Wine Centre, Alfriston, to a small town called Bra, Northern Italy. The primary purpose of the ride is to raise awareness and funds for Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice in Arundel. However, in addition they hope to promote English wine throughout France and Italy by visiting top wine producers, then having direct tastings of their hosts’ wines versus the winners from the 2007 English Wine Festival.

Chestnut Tree House is the only children’s hospice in Sussex and cares for children and young adults from 0-19 years of age with progressive life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses. Chestnut Tree House offers support for the whole family including psychological support, care in bereavement therapy, end of life and respite care and sibling support. The hospice costs approximately £2 million per year to run. Families are not charged for their care and the hospice receives no government funding at all, so it relies completely on the generosity, help and support of the people of Sussex.

Henry and Andy are Sussex born and bred and are taking with them 4 English wines that are local to their home town, Brighton. Although they don’t envisage rapturous applause from their French hosts they do expect an appreciation for the fact that English wine has come a long way in the last ten years.

Henry comments: "We are aware that there are many events asking for donations on a regular basis. Our trip is not just any old charity trip; it’s the most inventive one around. If you haven’t heard about it you can find full detail here www.MadDogsAndEnglishWine.com .

In brief, Andy and I are taking award-winning English wine by tandem and presenting it at wine tastings throughout France and ending up showing them at a Slow Food dinner in Bra (north east Italy). We will be raising awareness of the charity detailed above, our local wines, green travel, the Slow Food movement and quality French and Italian wine makers.

The wines that we’re taking are Ridgeview Bloomsbury, Breaky Bottom Sparkling ’03, Biddenden Dry, and a Dry White Ortega from Plumpton College, which is a project unique to us at the Butlers Wine Cellar.

We have put a lot of work into this - not just training - but trying to organise “international” wine tastings, and that’s not easy. We aren’t going as athletes, but there is no room for error; we have to finish it as the Chestnut Tree are depending on us, that is one of the reasons I don’t sleep at night."

The ride will be in excess of 1600Km and take 18 days to complete. The pair will ride through Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, the Rhone and finally into Piedmont in northern Italy. The final destination, Bra, is the home of the Slowfood movement, an organisation that supports small, traditional farms and producers such as English wine makers.

Donations can be taken via the Mad Dogs And English Wine website.

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14th March

ADOPT A VINE FROM BOOKERS FOR FATHER'S DAY

Has your Dad ever dreamt of producing and drinking his very own wine from his own vineyard? Help him take a step towards that dream and adopt a vine from Bookers Vineyard for your Dad this Father’s Day.
                                               
The Adopt a Vine gift contains a welcome letter with details of the recipient’s ‘Rondo’ vine, a map of the vineyard with their vine highlighted, a presentation certificate and a voucher for a free tour and tasting at Bookers Vineyard, based near Bolney in West Sussex. The gift also includes two bottles of Bookers’ Dark Harvest, a medium bodied, smooth, dry red wine with lots of red fruit flavours and complimentary oak notes.

What’s more, to mark the occasion, if you buy the Adopt a Vine gift before Father’s Day (15th June 2008), the recipient will receive a free guest pass for the vineyard tour and tasting.

The Adopt a Vine Gift Box costs £49.00 and is available online from Bookers.

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13th March

ENGLISH WINES PASS THE TASTE TEST

Recently reported from independent merchant Noel Chadwick in Wigan:  one recent Saturday evening in their restaurant, which only serves English wines, they had a table of four wine and food enthusiasts who appeared unaware of this when they ordered their wine.

When it was brought to their table, one of them said, "Shall we do the usual?" and each took a mouthful of the wine, pronouncing their opinion on its characteristics and country of origin. Two voted for Chile, one for Argentina and one for Portugal. What they did agree on was it was one of the best wines they had ever tasted.  “The look on their faces when they examined the label to discover it was English was priceless!” reported Rebecca McCarthy of Noel Chadwick.

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10th March

LOCAL SUPPORT AT A'BECKETT'S WINES ARE NOW AVAILABLE THOUGH WADWORTH

Leading independent brewery Wadworth & Co, from Devizes in Wiltshire, have linked up with local vineyard a’Beckett’s and now are selling their wines throughout their 250 strong pub estate, as well as to their trade customers. 

The move highlights the strong Wiltshire link between the two producers, which will undoubtedly develop enthusiastic local support.   a’Beckett’s Sparkling White, Estate Blend still white and Estate Red are the only English wines on the Wadworth list. 

Andrew Steer, commercial manager at Wadworth said “We are delighted to be able to work with a’Beckett’s Vineyard. The wines are excellent quality and the current increasing demand for local products and reducing carbon footprints makes a’Beckett’s and Wadworth ideal regional partners. We are looking forward to increasing the distribution and awareness of the range in time.”

a’Beckett’s proprietor Paul Langham, who together with his wife Lynn planted the vineyard in 2001, commented: “We are thrilled that we are supplying Wadworth, one of Wiltshire’s leading and most popular brands. Lynn and I are delighted that we can now buy our wine in our local!”

a’Beckett’s continue to develop their vineyard business, with a winery building now ready to accommodate winemaking equipment ready for this year’s harvest.  Two of the wines won awards last year, with a Silver medal won by the (now sold out) Rosé 2006 and a Bronze for the Estate Red 2005 in the English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition. 

7th March

GOLD MEDAL FOR ENGLISH DESSERT WINE

Following national and international success last year, Eglantine Vineyard in Nottinghamshire have scooped yet another prestigious medal in France.  Eglantine’s North Star, a luscious dessert wine produced from Madeleine Angevine, has won a Gold Medal at Vinalies Internationales in Paris http://www.vinalies-internationales.fr - announced this week.  This comes on top of a Gold Medal at Concours des Vins des Vignerons Independents 2007, and a Silver Medal Best In Class in last year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

Each vintage of this wine has won top medals.  The wine is produced by Eglantine owner and winemaker Tony Skuriat.  There is little in the way of protection between this vineyard and Siberia. On one occasion, grapes were harvested by the Northern Lights – which probably inspired the name of the wine!

The wine is described by IWSC judges as “…very attractive nose packed with tropical tones highlighted by pineapple with hint of mint. Initial mouth appears to be richly sweet then beautiful balance is provided by clean, lively fruit acidity. Floral notes in the background with freesia and hint of honeysuckle. Touches of jasmine and camomile suggest the influence of a master perfumier. Lithe and nimble. Clean cut finish. Delightful now yet has potential to develop over years to come.”

The wine is available direct from Eglantine Vineyard by either visiting or contacting by email or from the following outlets:

Delilah Foods, Nottingham

Think England, Torquay

best-english-wines.co.uk

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6th March

CHATEAU WAITROSE - Waitrose Plants Vineyard in Hampshire

Waitrose has today announced that it will be the first UK retailer to plant vines in England. The vines will be planted in the next year on the retailer's own 4,000 acre farm, The Leckford Estate, in Hampshire. Customers will need to be patient though, as this English Fizz will not debut on the shelves at Waitrose until 2014.

This move is in response to the continuing growth in interest and sales of English wine. Reflecting this trend, in 2007 Waitrose reported a growth in sales of over 90% and a market share among the multiples topping 40%*.

Waitrose has stocked English wine for over twelve years. The demand for English wine has risen so dramatically that Waitrose doubled its range in 2007. The aim is to have between 2 and 6 local wines in every branch in the wine producing regions of England. In addition 28 ‘local’ English wines, already available in Waitrose shops, are available nationwide online from Waitrose Wine Direct (www.waitrose.com/wine).

A Waitrose spokesperson commented: "To ensure our customers can continue to enjoy English wine in the future we are investing now to cope with future growth. It is a long term project - the vines will need three years before we see the first crop of grapes, and then a two year wine-making and maturation cycle for t