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Slideshow
What to look out for during this year’s English Wine Week
We round up a selection of new launches, events and products to try during this year’s English Wine Week, from a new Chardonnay grown in West Sussex and made in Fulham to a new book launched by two married masters of wine.
Image: Squerryes
English Wine Week is a national campaign designed to raise awareness of our homegrown industry across the country. Running from 26 May to 3 June this year, both vineyards and retailers are scheduling an impressive array of events to celebrate the occasion in what is becoming a larger event each year.
Last year, a total of 5.9 million bottles of wine were produced in the UK, with sales increasing by 31% between 2015 and 2017, according to a survey conducted by the recently formed industry body Wine GB.
In 2016, the English wine industry alone grew its turnover by 16% to a record high of £132 million, and WineGB is determined to continue this growth.
Estimating that the English and Welsh wine industry combined has the potential to produce 40m bottles by 2040, WineGB believes it could become a £1 billion business.
With a total of 2,500 hectares under vine, around one million vines were planted in the UK last year with a further 1.7m to be established in 2018. Currently, sparkling wine accounts for 66% of production in England and Wales, according to the WSTA.
Here, we’ve rounded up the latest launches to look out for in the industry, as well as a selection of events and some more unusual expressions to sample, for those who think they’ve tried it all.
For the full events schedule please click here, or follow @Wine_GB and @englishwineweek on Twitter.
New launches
Image: Hush Heath
We may only be five months into 2018, but it’s been a busy year already for English wine.
Firstly, and available to pre-order this week, is urban winery London Cru’s first English Chardonnay, using grapes grown in West Sussex and produced in Fulham by winemaker Agustín González Novoa. London Cru has used French grapes in its last three vintages. Called Chancery Lane, the wine is described as being similar to Chablis in style but with “distinct English characteristics of crisp apples and pear drops”. It’s available via the Roberson Wine website for £15 a pop.
English wine stalwart Ridgeview has undergone a redesign, launching its new packaging at celebration at The Savoy last week. Representing “a deliberate move away from the more traditional sparkling wine design cues,” Ridgeview has worked closely with designers CookChick Design to produce modern branding for its six-bottle range.
In March, Cornwell’s Camel Valley became the first English wine producer to be granted a royal warrant. Founder Bob Lindo has been putting the finishing touches to his ‘By Appointment’ bottles in time for English Wine Week.
Labelling the first ‘By Royal Appointment’ bottles in time for English Wine Week #Royalwarrent #EnglishWineWeek pic.twitter.com/P8IY11Tzsq
— Bob Lindo (@camelvalleybob) May 25, 2018
Unveiled in April is Hampshire’s latest winery called Black Chalk. Releasing a classic brut and a rosé (both blends of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir) which will retail for £35 and £40 respectively, the brand is the brainchild of Hattingley Valley’s Jacob Leadley, who gave up a job in the City to retrain as a winemaker back in 2009. Black Chalk is certainly going down a treat, having recently been shortlisted for the drinks business’ new Sparflex award for English Sparkling wine packaging.
If you want to swat up on the industry, MW power couple Susie Barrie and Peter Richards have just published ‘The Essential Guide to English Wine’, available here for £10, with trade and bulk prices negotiable.
Happy #EnglishWineWeek everyone! @SusieBarrie & I are raising a larger glass than usual – our new monograph has just arrived from the printers. Here’s to finding any excuse to celebrates with a glass of the good stuff… What will you be drinking?! 🍾🥂🍷🎉 #EssentialEnglishWine pic.twitter.com/UcdMeJSHFB
— Peter Richards MW (@wineschools) May 26, 2018
Just in time for this month’s royal wedding, Surrey producer Greyfriars launched its Cuvée Royale 2015 a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from its Monkshatch vineyard. Look out for more single vineyard releases due to be released, which include a Blanc de Noirs and an Old Vines Blanc de Blancs, produced using the original vines planted on the site that are now almost 30 years’ old.
Plumpton College is certainly pulling out all the stops this year, changing its certification provider to the Royal Agricultural College and launching an A-Level equivalent course for those aged between 16 and 18. In addition, it gave a first-year student the opportunity to re-design its entire wine portfolio to reflect the “increasing quality of English and Welsh wine”.
One of the most eagerly anticipated launches this year was the first sparkling wines from ambitious Sussex producer Rathfinny. Releasing a 2014 blanc de blancs and a 2015 sparkling rosé, unveiled at a launch event in April at Somerset House, the wines will be available from June. The bottles picked up a special commendation at the drinks business’ new Sparflex award for English Sparkling wine packaging, while the winery has laid down over 800 imperial pint (56.8cl) bottles of its Blanc de Noirs 2015, which is due to be disgorged next year.
And finally, from bringing back a tradition, to creating an entirely new one – earlier this year, Ben Walgate of Tillingham Wines released a Pet Nat rosé, called PN17, as well as two Ortegas, one of which is matured in Georgian qvevri, which are due to be unveiled shortly. With plans in the pipeline for a still Chardonnay, Walgate has gained the support of Les Caves de Pyrene who are stocking all three wines.
Events
Image: Chapel Down
With well over 50 official events taking place between now and Sunday, here is a brief selection of what is in store.
London wine bar and restaurant chain 28-50 are offering an English Wine Week special featuring the recent winner of the drinks business’ new Sparflex award for English Sparkling wine packaging, Digby. Grab a glass of Digby Rosé Sparkling and choose between either three Pyefleet oysters or Devon crab with Quinoa, herbs, lemon purée and avocado for £15 at each of the three London sites.
Winner of The Drinks Business Fine Wine Retailer of the Year, New Street Wine, is supporting Kent’s Gusbourne this week and organised a special event last Saturday. Also promoting the Appledore-based winery is The Devonshire Club where guests can enjoy a glass of its sparkling wine in the newly unveiled Number Five restaurant throughout English Wine Week.
Meanwhile Simpson’s in the Strand is offering a four-course menu for £120 paired with different Ridgeview sparklers. Try slow cooked Gressingham duck breast coupled with Ridgeview Blanc de Noirs or cranachan with a glass of Rosé de Noirs.
Michelin-starred Angler restaurant will be hosting a wine dinner in partnership with Nyetimber on 31 May. Dishes include squid ink cracker, smoked cod’s roe, Espelette pepper Iberican ham croquette and summer truffle with Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, and Cornish turbot with mushrooms and dashi accompanied by Nyetimber Demi-Sec. Tickets cost £130 per person.
Bonhams Restaurant is also holding an English Wine Dinner with a four course menu, created by head chef Tom Kemble, paired with wines from Hambledon, Simpsons and Martins Lane Vineyard. Tickets are £125 per person.
Among the wineries offering special events and tastings this week are Chapel Down, Bolney, Albury, Sharphams, Simpsons, Denbies, Hanwell Wine Estate, Hush Heath, Giffords Hall and High Clandon.
For the full schedule, click here or contact your local winery directly.
And now for something a little different…
Image: Simpsons
What better time to try something new than English Wine Week.
It’s in short supply, but for something more unusual, Somerset producer Smith and Evans produces a zero dosage, sulphur free sparkler made from a blend of reserve wine from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 vintages called Trilogy One.
While red wines are still in the minority in the UK, sparkling reds are even more unusual. Currently on the 2013 vintage, Bolney’s Cuvée Noir is described as having notes of “red cherry, red currants and sweet blueberries” and is recommended to be served with game dishes, BBQ meats, cheese and bitter chocolate desserts.
Earlier this month it was reported that new drinks brand The Uncommon had released the first English wine in a can, a lightly sparkling Bacchus using grapes grown in Surrey. You can pick up a can at Selfridges for £4.99 per 250ml.
If you’re a fan of organic, there are now quite a collection of organic producers in England including Oxney, Davenport, Seddlescombe, Quoins and Albury for you to try.
And finally, those with a sweet tooth should not feel left out with Eglantine North Star, Seddlescombe Dessert and Denbies Noble Harvest Ortega all examples of dessert wine produced in the UK.