GOOD FOOD GUY
WHY ENGLISH WINE IS GENUINELY WORTH CELEBRATING
Taken from this month’s Cotswold Life magazine
I NEVER NEED AN EXCUSE TO TALK ABOUT WINE - OR DRINK IT FOR THAT MATTER - BUT IT’S GOT TOO BE WORTH POPPING A CORK FOR.
I love a great glass of wine, but I’m at an age where I’d rather not drink at all than put up with something I don’t really like or drinking just for the sake of it.
I’m not too fussy where my wines come from (I’m not a new world versus old world kind of guy, it’s all about the quality and taste to me) but with the rising popularity of English wines over the last few years, I’ve found myself sampling more and more of our home-grown vino.
The English wine industry is definitely in strong shape – there are now over 700 vineyards in England and Wales and UK wine sales rose by 31% in 2021. English Wine Week (17-25th June 2023) is a way of celebrating our thriving wine industry – something that would have been potentially laughable a decade or so ago.
There’s no doubt UK wines have improved over the years, thanks to improved winemaking knowledge and practices as well as our changing climate. It’s even fair to say that some of our sparkling wines stand shoulder to shoulder with their more famous brothers and sisters from over the Channel.
We’ve got some really great winemakers here in the Cotswolds who are making waves on the English wine stage. Lending their expertise to cool climate grapes, such as Bacchus, Ortega and Phoenix, our local vineyards are now producing award-winning whites as well as bottles of bubbly.
If you haven’t yet popped a cork from one of our Cotswold vineyards, English Wine Week gives you the perfect excuse (not that you need one!).
Award-winning wines from the Cotswolds
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THREE CHOIRS VINEYARD
This 75-acre vineyard in Gloucestershire has been making award-winning wines under the careful guidance of Martin Fowke for over 25 years. There is a range of accommodation for overnight stays, perfect if you want to enjoy the full vineyard experience with wine-tasting and food to match.
CORK-POPPERS
Coleridge Hill is a crisp, refreshing white wine with distinctly English hedgerow aromas and hints of crisp apple, fragrant elderflower and cut grass. A refreshing wine on its own or with fish dishes.
Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards, Bronze at the Wines of Great Britain Awards
Classic Cuvée is an easy drinking sparkling wine that’s traditionally bottle-fermented, producing classic brioche and biscuit notes. Fresh, rich, rounded and full of complexity.
Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards
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WOODCHESTER VALLEY VINEYARD
Vines were first planted at this boutique vineyard on the edge of Stroud in 2007 under the watchful eye of owner Fiona Shiner. Today the team produces over 100,000 bottles of wine a year and welcomes more than 10,000 visitors a year to enjoy wine-tasting, vineyard tours and overnight stays.
CORK-POPPERS
Sauvignon Blanc 2021 was awarded the highest possible award in the 2022 Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters, for wines that are an ‘outstanding example of its type, showing impeccable winemaking’.
Masters Medal at the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2022
Cotswold Classic 2019 is a sparkling wine that’s aged on the lees to produce aromas of pastry and brioche alongside fresh citrus and red apple and stone fruit notes.
Silver at the Wine GB Awards
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POULTON HILLS ESTATE
Founded in 2010 near the Roman town of Cirencester, this charming vineyard has almost 10,000 vines producing 20,000 bottles of wine a year. It is also the home of ‘Bulari’, the new name for top quality English sparkling wines to highlight their growing importance on the world stage.
CORK-POPPERS
Bulari Rosé and White are sparkling wines with a pleasant delicate mousse. The rosé has hints of rose petal while the white has a freshly-cut green apple and pear vibrancy.
Commended at the International Wine Challenge - the world’s most influential annual competition.
Bacchus 2016 is a punchy white that’s light gold in appearance with notes of elderflower, ripe peach, grapefruit and lychee.
Commended at the Sommelier Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge