DrinkBritain

A time for celebration

Sparkling wine producer RidgeView has beaten top champagnes costing up to three times as much to win the Decanter International Trophy for Sparkling Wine over £10 for its Ridgeview Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2006.

Founded in 1995 by Mike and Christine Roberts, RidgeView is no stranger to accolades – earlier this year it won Wine of the Year for the second year running in the English and Welsh Wine Awards – but this is likely to command a special spot on its ever-more crowded wall of awards.

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Come on down – the grapes are fine

Diary commitments permitting, Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne will be rolling up his sleeves for a spot of harvesting with one of his latest investments, Pebblebed Wines, this Autumn.

Bannatyne invested £60,000 in return for a 40% stake in Pebblebed’s future growth plans during the last run of the popular BBC series. “Pebblebed is a flourishing business,” he told DrinkBritain.com “and the wines are great. We have already trialled them at our Somerset Hotel [the recently purchased Charlton House in nearby Shepton Mallet] where they have been well received.” continue reading…

Bolney’s first sparkling red is named after one of the most visible stars in the night skies, the super red giant, Antares – its radius is about 800 times that of the sun. Made in the traditional manner from Dornfelder, a grape that does well in the cooler climates of England, less than 200 cases were produced, so this is one to catch while you can.

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Sparkling success: Pebblebed wins Dragon's backing

Within 12 hours of Geoff Bowen’s appearance on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, he had received 100 requests for more information – not something you’d normally expect from an English vigneron in the rural Devon town of Topsham.

But then there’s nothing that “normal” about the way Bowen runs his business. To begin with, rather than ending up in hock to the bank, he persuaded 20 other families to get involved with his initial Pebblebed vineyard purchase. Currently he has 22 acres spread over three sites.

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Hampshire’s Food Festival is heading towards the half-way mark, but don’t let the word “food” put you off – there’s more than a few liquid events included on its list of activities.

Take Wickham Vineyards in Shedley for example, halfway along the coast from Southampton to Portsmouth. In the news this year for buying some of the former wine shops from the now defunct First Quench chain, it continues with its original business – an 18-acre vineyard complete with celebrity chef, Atul Kochar’s out-of-town restaurant, Vatika.

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Oz Clarke congratulates Bob Lindo, left, and son, Sam

Sparkling rosé has a strong future in England says the UK’s Winemaker of the Year, Sam Lindo of Camel Valley in Cornwall. Having just been awarded the International Wine Challenge’s Sparkling Rosé Trophy for his Pinot Noir 2008 ahead of rivals in Champagne and across the world, Lindo said that the whole family was “delighted” and admitted that the news “was still sinking in”.

“I really honestly believe that rosé can become synonynous with England,” he told DrinkBritain.com. “There’s more raspberry and strawberry flavours.” continue reading…

How do you like your gin?

Gin is leading the charge for British drinks at Imbibe 2010, the new show from the guys behind Square Meal and Imbibe on 13-14 July at Earls Court.

Targeted solely at those in the bar and restaurant industry and covering all drinks types, with 13,500 visitors already registered, it’s likely to be a busy couple of days.

With half a dozen premium players – Sipsmith, Sacred, No 3 London Dry, Greenall’s, Geranium and Whitley Neill – there’s every chance to see what it is about these gins that is catching people’s eye – and palates. continue reading…

All the fun of the fair

Those of you within striking distance of Hampshire have a fun month ahead. Hampshire Food Festival returns for its tenth appearance throughout July.

With everything from watercress workshops to wine tasting, events kick off in earnest this weekend.

Head to Portsmouth for the Gunwharf Quays Festival, where the star turn will be Raymond Blanc in the food theatre, plus a 40-strong real ale festival, an Italian food market and regional food stalls. Open Fri-Sun.

If you are in Basingstoke, drop by Festival Place, where inimitable wine expert Olly Smith will be keeping chefs Ed Baines and John Burton Race chained to the stove for their cookery demos. Sat 3–Sun 4 July

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King Sam, UK Winemaker of the Year

For the second time in four years, Cornwall-based Camel Valley has picked up the Winemaker of the Year Trophy in the English & Welsh Wine of the Year annual awards. Not to be outdone, sparkling wine specialists RidgeView Wine Estate took the Wine of the Year trophy for the second year running. Top medal tally goes to Kent’s Chapel Down Wines for its haul of five golds, two silvers and four bronzes. continue reading…

Andy Howard, centre with SEVA trophy winners Andrew Weeber and Kevin Sutherland

Senior M&S buyer and chair of the SE Vineyard Association’s judging panel Andy Howard is looking forward to M&S developing closer links with the English wine industry, perhaps by working with Plumpton College, the UK’s leading practical wine educational establishment, or devising initiatives for next year’s English Wine Week.

At the moment M&S stocks five English still and sparkling wines, including top sparkling rosé, Balfour Brut, and a few from Chapel Down. Howard said this might change in the future. “We can’t have a huge selection,” he told DrinkBritain.com after the SEVA 2010 awards. “But customers do want to see new things, there’s a lot more interest in English wine and local sourcing helps.”

Howard’s words of advice for the UK wine industry? “Keep a focus on quality. Push that forward even more, and keep an eye on the diversity of styles.”

Winning duo: Gusbourne's Andrew Weeber, right, with his "perfectionist" of a winemaker, Mike Roberts, Ridgeview

“Astonishment!” That was the one word reaction from Gusbourne Vineyard’s owner Andrew Weeber on the news that his Classic Blend 2006 had picked up not just Gold for its inaugural appearance but the South East Wine of the Year trophy for 2010 at the SEVA’s annual awards ceremony on 8 June.

“Our grapes were wonderful,” Weeber continued. “And Mike Rogers [who makes the wine for Gusbourne at RidgeView] is the most wonderful perfectionist. This is a reflection of his commitment to producing wonderful wines for himself and for others.” continue reading…

Full house: English Wine Week at Artisan & Vine

Over 40 people flocked to Clapham wine bar Artisan & Vine for its English wine tasting on Wednesday evening. Paying a tenner each, 29 wines were available to try, from the likes of top sparklers Nyetimber, Ridgeview and Camel Valley, through whites and rosés to a quartet of reds, including the one Jancis Robinson MW made her Wine of the Week a fortnight ago, the Biddenden Gamay 2009.

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a'Becketts: a farm with a view

Fresh from their appearance at the Bristol Eco Veggie Fair, the guys at a’Becketts are back at base for walks, talks and tastings during English Wine Week. Located halfway way between Avebury and Stonehenge this family-run vineyard will be launching its Vine Rental Scheme for the next year, with 60 ‘units’ available for those who want to get involved.

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Parva Farm: a river runs below it

It may not be on quite the same scale, but vines have definitely taken root across the Welsh border.

The oldest vineyard in Wales, Parva Farm will be open during the whole of Welsh Wine Week. Located five miles from Chepstow, overlooking Tintern and the River Wye, Parva Farm also has a farm shop and picnic area for visitors. As throughout the year, visitors can take a self-guided tour and the new 2009 wines will be available to taste for the first time. Alongside other local produce, Welsh cheeses feature in the farm shop and will also be on taste during the week.

Wernddu Vineyard in Pen-y-Clawdd, Monmouth is opening its doors on Sat 5 and Sun 6 June, 11am–7pm, offering a taste of its new organic sparkling wine with free strawberries, plus a chance to say hello and feed Leigh and Frank Strawford’s friendly pack of alpacas. Wernddu also produces organic cider and perry.

Details

Parva Farm Vineyard, Tintern, Chepstow, Monmouth, NP16 6SQ; 01291 689636

Open from 10.30am–6pm

Wernddu Organics, Wernddu Farm, Pen-y-Clawdd, Monmouth, NP25 4BW; 01600 740104

Biddenden: so how do you ripen red grapes in England?

Even the most enthusiastic supporter of English wine has to admit that red wine is a bit of a struggle for us here on Blighty. With our delightful climate, it can be difficult to get depth let alone texture. Yet the oldest family owned commercial vineyard in Kent, Biddenden, managed to pull off a coup with its Gamay 2009. Not only was it one of Jancis Robinson MW top scoring wines at this year’s Annual Trade Tasting (see her Purple Pages for full notes), it was the one selected for her Wine of the Week.

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Biodiversity rules supreme at Bothy Vineyard

For those who missed the tours and free tastings at highly sustainable Bothy Vineyard near Oxford over the Bank Holiday weekend, Sian and Richard Liwicki are opening their doors again on 5 and 6 June at 11am for English Wine Week.

As part of their commitment to cultivate grapes “in as environmentally friendly way as possible”, no insecticides are used, native grasses and trees have been planted to encourage biodiversity, 100% of the energy used on site is from renewable sources, and 95% of winery waste is composted on site.

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This way for the chocolate and wine match

Chocolate and English wine – not obvious bedfellows it has to be said, unless you are talking perhaps an unctuous sweetie or a perky red sparkler from Down Under. But then, the chocolates have been specially made, and the wines of choice are from Stanlake Park, a winery that has always grown a wider variety of grapes than many an English vineyard, Gewurztraminer being one of their regulars, for example. And the chocolatier is the award-winning Nigel Rumsey, proprietor of coffee & chocolate shops in Thame and Wendover, inspired by, yes, you guessed it, the film Chocolat.

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Everyone's involved at Kent Vineyard

In keeping with its “let’s get everyone involved “ ethos, the enterprising Kent Vineyard is holding its first May Fair on Bank Holiday Monday to mark English Wine Week, from 1pm at its Colliers Green Vineyard, near Cranbrook, just to the east of Tunbridge Wells.

With facepainting from Phizzog and kiddies games there’s something for the young ‘uns. continue reading…

Terlingham: overlooking the sea and above Newington's Millennium horse

England’s smallest vineyard with its own winery opens its doors for English Wine Week tomorrow at 2pm. Terlingham Vineyard is also known as the White Horse Vineyard because of its location, just above the horse emblem specially carved into the chalky grassland by Charles Newington to mark the new millennium

With vineyard tours by founders Penny and Steve Riley, a hog roast at 4pm – apparently Steve has a county-wide reputation as a mean cook – plus jazz continue reading…

Denbies: off to the fields with you

Want to find out one of the techniques for ensuring a good harvest? Known as bud-rubbing – or bud busting if you’re from Down Under – it’s the removal of unwanted baby shoots around the base of a vine and Denbies in Dorking would like to share the skills with you. Renowned for its Vine and Dine harvesting days in October, for English Wine Week this year it is holding its first Vine Bud Rubbing experience on Tues 1 June.

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