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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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…

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…

Gusbourne Estate: in the beginning was the bud

… do great initiatives emerge.

As we wandered around the sun-drenched budding vines at Gusbourne Estate and Ridgeview, I was reminded what makes our wine industry so different and why I am launching the travel side to www.DrinkBritain.com in September. Despite the show of sun, our precarious climate makes winemaking inevitably of a boutique nature for all but a few. To make such a business work, the value of you, the potential visitor is well nigh vital for long term success.

Take our two wineries. continue reading…

This way for the professional winos

Considering converting your garden to a vineyard? Fancy learning how to make wine? Plumpton College, the UK’s leading centre for practical wine education, is holding its Spring open morning this Saturday, 6 March. Specialising in land-based studies – bee keeping, equine studies and metalsmithing are also on offer – Plumpton College  has a good reputation for its wines, particularly its sparkling ones. All the tutors have spent time in industry so you can be assured of a realistic approach, and you’ll find its graduates at wineries the world over, including Nyetimber, Chapel Down, Denbies and Ridgeview in the UK.

From full-time three year BScs through to one-day a month ‘principles of…’ courses, the range on offer caters for the hobby farmer through to those intent on setting up their own wineries at home or abroad. More details of WineSkills, the £380K government-funded programme of courses for the youthful UK wine industry will also be available. continue reading…