14th September 2009 -
UKVA website launched today

The United Kingdom Vineyards Association has launched a new website today. Offering plentiful information to new and existing vineyard owners and winemakers, the website promises to be a key portal for all involved in the industry. The members section contains pesticide information, back-copies of the email bulletin, consultation documents, useful scientific papers and industry information.

The web address is - www.ukva.org.uk (opens in new window)

5th September 2009 -
South West Vineyards Competition Results

Astley Vineyard take the title of South West Wine of the Year for their spectacular Late Harvest 2008.  The second year running that a dessert wine has topped the entries.

97 entries achieved a total of 75 awards, which shows an impressive level of quality from within the south west region.

For the second year, wine writer Jamie Goode chaired the high calibre panel (John Avery MW, Richard Bampfield MW, Margaret Harvey MW, Alastair Peebles MW and US based wine journalist Anthony Manifold) who were said to have achieved a generally high level of consensus across the judging.

You can see Jamie Goode’s blog about the competition here: http://www.wineanorak.com/blog/index.htm scroll down to see his three posts.

And full results are on this website here.

Plus a few photos in the Gallery.

10th July 2009 -
Gloucestershire Vineyards on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire breakfast programme talks about the counties vineyards, and production this year. Interviews with Three Choirs, St Anne's Vineyard, and Vine & Wine and followed by a wine tasting with Phoenix Fine Wines in Gloucester.

Listen again on BBC iplayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p003mwtk (opens in new window)

23rd May 2009 -
South West gets a new Chairman and UKVA representative

We are pleased to be able to tell you that Brian Shirley has offered to take on the job of Chairman and the Committee have duly appointed him. Jacky Brayton will be our representative on the UKVA Council and was appointed at the AGM.

Brian and Jacky have bravely taken on the restoration of Wraxall Vineyard in Somerset and have carried out a substantial new planting.  Some of the old vines continue and are looking very well.  Those with long memories will remember that one of our past Chairman was Tony Holmes and that Wraxall was his vineyard.

Brian and Jacky will make an excellent team and will ensure the continued success of the SWVA in serving our membership, and our continued input and involvement in all UKVA matters.

Brain can be contacted via this email chair@swva.info

Jacky can be contacted via this email ukva@swva.info

22nd May 2009 -
English Wine Week starts tomorrow

English Wine Week starts on Saturday 23rd May. With lots going on in our region, there hasn't been a better time to see our vineyards and taste the new wines.

See the English Wine Week website for details and a list of events and participating vineyards, retailers, pubs and restaurants in our region. http://www.englishwineweek.co.uk/whatson.htm#sw

Events and activities in Wales can be found here http://www.englishwineweek.co.uk/vineyards.htm#wales

Of course, Devon has a special website to detail events on http://www.devonwineweek.co.uk/

13th May 2009 -
South West Award Winners in International Competitions

The results have been announced from two important international wine competitions; The International Wine Challenge, and The Decanter Magazine World Wine Awards, and South West Vineyards have carried home a heap of awards this year in a record year for English Wine (see http://www.englishwineproducers.com/news.htm#News13May09).

The International Wine Challenge saw a gold medal awarded for Camel Valley's Bacchus 2007, Silver for Camel Valley and 2 silvers for Sharpham, and 3 Bronze medals for Astley and 3 Bronze medals for Camel Valley, and a number of commendations for Astley, Oatley, Three Choirs and Sharpham Vineyards. See http://www.englishwineproducers.com/IWSC2009.htm for further details.

The Decanter World Wine awards saw Gold for Camel Valley's Sparkling White Pinot 2005, as well as Silver and Bronze medals and further commendations. Other vineyards in our region to feature in the awards were Sharpham, Oatley and Parva Farm. See http://www.englishwineproducers.com/DWWA2009 for details.