9th December 2008 -
WELSH WINE INDUSTRY DISCUSSED ON BBC WALES "WALES@WORK" PROGRAMME

Leading Welsh vineyard owners, Richard Morris of Ancre Hill, Scott Williams of Llanerch, Bernard Herbert of Penarth and Peter Baker of Monnow Valley joined Simon Day of Vine and Wine and Chairman of the South West Vineyards Association, in discussing the current state of the industry in Wales and it future potential, with host presenter Nick Servini.

The live, half hour programme highlighted how far the industry has come in the past 2 decades, and discussed sparkling wine as the future. A positive, on air tasting of Cariad, Monnow Valley and Penarth wines concluded the quality was already good, and with future investment, certain areas within Wales could follow the New Zealand model and become capable of consistently producing world class wines.

To listen to the broadcast for the next 7 days, click here to listen again on the BBC

The programme originally aired at 6:30pm on the 9th December, and is repeated on Sunday Morning 14th December at 6:30am.

25th November 2008 -
AND ANOTHER TOURISM AWARD FOR CAMEL VALLEY, CROWNING A GREAT 2008

Camel Valley, already Gold Medal winners from this year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards have won a silver medal in the South West Tourism Awards for the visitor attraction part of their wine business.   Camel Valley has previously won South West Tourism Gold in the best food and drink section and won 4 trophies and 3 Gold medals in the 2008 United Kingdom Vineyard’s Association Annual Wine Competition.

Said owner Bob Lindo:  ‘We are delighted; these awards keep us on our toes.  Wine and tourism are a natural combination and interacting with potential customers and visitors is a vital part of any wine business.’

More at English Wine Producers

17th October 2008 -
CAMEL VALLEY WINS GOLD MEDAL TOURISM AWARD

Camel Valley Vineyard last night won a Gold Medal in the Cornwall Tourism Awards held at the Headland Hotel, Newquay.  The awards were presented by TV personality Ruby Wax; Camel Valley received the Gold award for ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’.

Said Bob Lindo:  ‘We decided very early on that we would concentrate solely on wine quality and wine tours.  All our tours are conducted by either a family member or a trained wine maker and we decided that we would forego the likes of a gift shop, or restaurant.  We are delighted that this strategy has been recognised’.

More at English Wine Producers

13th October 2008 -
bIG IN JAPAN

Japan Welcomes Top English Wines

Bob Lindo of Camel Valley has just returned from a successful trip to Japan to promote his and other leading English wines (Nyetimber, Ridgeview, Bookers and Chapel Down) having been invited over for the 150th British/Japan Trade anniversary Fair in Hankyu Stores, Osaka. 

More at English Wine Producers

5th / 6th september 2008 -
sOUTH WEST VINEYARDS aNNUAL COMPETITION

This years competition in the new two day format was a resounding success! We were lucky enough to have Jamie Goode (Wine writer) as Chairman of the judges, backed up by Margaret Harvey MW (Fine wines of New Zealand), Richard Bampfield MW (Wine Events), Patrick Shave (Hop Pocket Wine Company), Julia Tickridge (WSET wine Educator), and Anthony Manifold (US based freelance wine writer) as the judging panel.

With more time to judge the flights, the judges felt less rushed and were able to give a fairer reflection of the quality of the wines in each flight, which resulted in 81% of the entries getting an award (110 entries from 22 Vineyards) The full results are here.

Jamie Goode has an excellent wine blog, and you can see his entries about the competition here:http://www.wineanorak.com/blog/2008/09/english-wines-lots-of-them.html and here:http://www.wineanorak.com/blog/2008/09/more-english-wine.html

The results were announced on Saturday 6th September after a vineyard visit at Coddington Vineyard, courtesy of Denis and Ann Savage, and a tasting and lunch at Brockbury Hall, home of David and Clare Longman. Despite the weather, everyone really enjoyed the day, and in fact the sun did in fact appear on a couple of occasions! Congratulations to the winners, the standards were certainly high with the 2007 wines showing really well (still hope for 2008 then!).

Simon Day - Chairman.

1st July 2008 -
sOUTH WEST VINEYARDS SCOOP TROPHIES IN UKVA COMPETITION

South west vineyards, Three Choirs Vineyards and Camel Valley have taken 8 of the 13 Trophies in this years English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition.

Three Choirs' Estate Reserve Siegerrebe 2006 won the Gore-Browne Trophy (‘Wine of the Year’) and fittingly the Tom Day Trophy for Best Varietal Wine.  Tom Day was involved with Three Choirs Vineyards when it was first set up in the early 1970’s.  Three Choirs also won the Wine Guild Trophy and the McAlpine "Best Winemaker" trophy went to Three Choirs winemaker Martin Fowke - the second time he has won the accolade.

Camel Valley won the EWP Dudley Quirk Memorial Trophy for best large volume wine with their Bacchus 2006 and President's Trophy for the best wine produced in smaller quantities and the the Vintner's Trophy for best sparkling wine for their Camel Valley 'Cornwall' White Pinot 2005. They are also awarded the Montagu Trophy for best presented wine with Camel Valley 'Cornwall' Brut 2006.

Other South West Vineyards to collect medals this year include Astley Vineyards, Beeches Vineyard, Parva Farm Vineyard, Yearlstone Vineyard, Pebblebed Vineyards, Polgoon Vineyard, Sharpham Vineyard, Strawberry Hill Vineyard, Tiltridge Vineyard, Wraxall Vineyard, Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, and Kenton Vineyard.

Overall it is an impressive list of results that gives recognition to the regions vineyard owners and winemakers, and show that the South West can produce world class wines!

Full results can be found here: www.englishwineproducers.com/competitionresultsUKVA08.htm

The competition took place at Brightwell Vineyard in Oxfordshire on 26th and 27th June, with a top team of judges, chaired by Patricia Stefanowicz MW and comprising Julian Brind MW, Anthony Foster MW, Maggie McNie MW, Alastair Peebles MW, Stephen Skelton MW and David Wrigley MW.

1st July 2008 -
ROYAL VISIT FOR AWARD WINNING CORNISH VINEYARD

When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visit the Duchy on Thursday 10th July, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall will pay a visit to Camel Valley Vineyard near Bodmin.

The idea for the vineyard visit began when Cornishman David Brewer was Lord Mayor  of London and arranged a Cornish produce event at Leadenhall Market, which of course the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall attended.  They both showed great interest in the Cornish wines Sam Lindo was showing, and he made everyone laugh when he gave them a leaflet about the vineyard and invited them to visit Camel Valley.  ‘I never dreamed they’d take me up on the invitation, and it’s a great honour that they have.’

Sam Lindo – the UK’s 2007 ‘Winemaker of the Year’ – will show Her Royal Highness round the winery, and will demonstrate  the disgorging process he uses to make Camel Valley traditional method sparkling wine.  The bottle of ‘Cornwall’ will then be labelled and presented to Her Royal Highness to take home.  Sam says ‘I hope the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will enjoy drinking ‘Cornwall.’

Still very much a family concern, Camel Valley’s founders Bob and Annie Lindo will show the Duchess the vineyards and give a brief talk on vine growing.   Her Royal Highness will then meet the rest of the family and staff, and join neighbours for a Cornish lunch and wine tasting on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. 

‘Who could have imagined when we first planted vines twenty years ago that a member of the Royal family would ever visit us?’ said Bob Lindo.  ‘We’re all very pleased to welcome such a distinguished guest to our quiet little corner of the Cornish countryside, and I’m so pleased to have been able to include our neighbours and supporters in on the  visit, especially those who’ve flown over from Japan for the day!  We’ve won many prestigious awards over the years, and I consider this visit to be one of them.’

1st July 2008 -
FORTNUM & MASON SPARKLES THIS SUMMER wITH CAMEL VALLEY

Cornwall’s leading vineyard, Camel Valley, has developed Fortnum & Mason’s first ever own label English sparkling wine .

Camel Valley has produced just 3,000 bottles for the shelves of the world renowned food and drink emporium. This fresh yet vibrant fizz has elegant fruity aromas providing the perfect partner to this season’s British strawberries, light canapés and, indeed, any al fresco appetiser.

Bob Lindo, Owner of Camel Vineyard explains:
“It has been a fantastic experience teaming up with Fortnum & Mason. We pride ourselves that year on year the vineyard continues to produce top quality wines. To be recognised by Fortnum & Mason is a huge honour. Working with Fortnum & Mason provides us the opportunity to supply our sparkling wine to an international audience.”

The sparkling wine is made by Sam Lindo, named UK winemaker of the Year 2007, using a blend of grapes; Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe. This decadent sparkling is then aged on lees* for 18 months. The long growing season helps to create delicate and subtle aromas maintained through careful practice in the winery

Tim French, wine buyer for Fortnum & Mason adds:
“The English sparkling wine market is growing and we are seeing more and more wineries successfully competing against the more established international competition. We decided to work with Camel Valley as they stood out as a leader of England’s developing sparkling wine industry. It is exciting times for English sparkling wine and we are delighted to champion the finest examples at Fortnum’s.”

Fortnum & Mason English Sparkling, Camel Valley 2006 will be available from July priced £23.50.

*Lees are the yeasts and other by products left in the bottle after the second fermentation. Longer aging on the lees gives greater character to the wine.

24th April 2008 -
GEORGE MUSGRAVE DIES AFTER ACCIDENT

SWVA member, George Musgrave, 66, who ran Polmassick Vineyard in St Ewe, Cornwall, with his wife Barbara, 62, was killed when half a tonne of empty bottles fell on the father of two. He was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, but later died from his injuries.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious but the Health and Safety Executive is investigating the cause of the accident, which happened after a lorry had arrived with a delivery.

Mrs Musgrave said: “George and I were standing at the back of the lorry to help guide it. This pallet of bottles, which must have weighed half a tonne, shot off the back of the lorry and George couldn’t move out of the way fast enough.”

The SWVA wishes to express their deepest sympathies to Barbara and family.
(read The Times article)

28th March 2008 -
EXPERIENCE THE LUXURY OF A LODGE AT THREE CHOIRS VINEYARD

Three Choirs are building new lodge rooms in the heart of the vineyard combine luxurious accommodation with a haven of peace and tranquillity in leafy Gloucestershire.  These wooden lodges will be opening in June and are stuated just 500 metres from the main vineyard buildings, in the heart of the vineyard and overlooking the string of ponds in the valley below the restaurant. 

Each lodge is separated from its neighbour by several rows of vines.  They all have a double bedroom with king size bed and a bathroom with both a large bath and separate shower. All lodges also have an inviting veranda which runs around two sides of the building, giving the choice of sun or shade.

Each morning a breakfast hamper is delivered to the doorstep and guests who fancy a cooked breakfast the lodges are a short stroll from the vineyard restaurant which can also be booked for lunch and dinner.  If eating al fresco is more up your street, the vineyard can also provide barbeque packs for those who want to immerse themselves fully in the beauty of their surroundings.

A stay in the lodge, or in their main 8-room hotel could be combined with one of Three Vineyard Experience Days, which offer the chance to find out what it really is like to work as a winemaker!  The day starts at 10am with tea and coffee in the winery.  From here you will don your Three Choirs overalls and boots and venture in to the vineyard to help with whatever tasks are required depending on the time of year. This may be pruning, canopy management, shoot rubbing, trellising repairs or even a spot of grape picking.

On return to the winery mid-morning enjoy a tutored wine tasting with one of the wine makers, followed by a 3-course lunch in the Vineyard restaurant. Your host will choose suitable wines to accompany the meal and will explain how they were made.

After lunch it is back to the winery and the opportunity to help in various areas of wine production - this may be on the bottling line, labelling, filtering or monitoring fermentations.

Finally at the end of the day you can choose 2 bottles of wine to take away with you and you will receive an “Apprentice Winemaker” certificate!

All bookings are taken at www.threechoirs.com

1st February 2008 -
YEARLSTONE VINEYARD "FASTEST IMPROVING VINEYARD IN ENGLAND"

Yearlstone has been voted fastest improving vineyard in England for the second year running by the prestigious publication WINE REPORT 2008 compiled by experts around the world. The REPORT - itself voted the best wine guide/wine book - put Yearlstone Number One in its Top Ten for 2007 - and said "The Top 10 is probably the most useful indicator. While the rest of the market lags behind you can benefit from the inside knowledge of Wine Report, buying up top performing wines long before others cotton and prices increase". Yearlstone was in exalted company - in the Rhone Valley the fastest improving producer was Domaine de la Mordoree from Chateauneuf du Pape, and in the Loire Chateau de Passavant from Anjou. In the national review of English wine, the Report said " The changes occurring in the English wine scene are remarkable. With the area under vine occupied by sparkling wine varieties having doubled in three years and even more planting in the pipeline....the story has never been far away from the airwaves and the press. "

** The author of WINE REPORT - the Essential Insiders Guide to the World of Wine - is sparkling wine expert Tom Stevenson, with a team of regional specialists covering each major wine region of the world. Published by Dorling Kindersley £9.99 Voted Best Wine Reference Book in 2007 by Decanter magazine.

Link to: Yearlstone vineyard
Link to: Wine Report

30th January 2008 -
3RD dEVON WINE WEEK IN PLANNING STAGE

Third Devon Wine Week now being planned. At last count Devon had 22 vineyards, up from 6 vineyards 10 years ago. Already signed up: Yearlstone, Sharpham, Pebblebed, Manstree, National Trust Knightshayes, Willhayne. Hopefully we will get quite a few more in the next few weeks. The full programme will be available at the Yearlstone and Pebblebed websites. This year's sponsors are Brend Hotels - the biggest hotel chain in Devon. Last year was solicitors Ashfords. We hope to raise at least the £5000 sponsorship package we achieved in 07. Main downside is the lack of wine to sell among Devon vineyards due to the low yielding 2007 vintage. For more information, please contact Roger White at Yearlstone Vineyard roger@yearlstone.co.uk

Devon Wine Week runs as part of the national English Wine Week

7th January 2008 -
UK PRODUCERS TOAST LIFTING OF PLANTING BAN

English and Welsh wine producers have particular reason to celebrate the New Year, following the announcement just before Christmas that extension to the EU wide planting ban will not apply to the UK.  The EU Council has agreed to a permanent exclusion of the UK from the planting rights regime. 

This planting restriction had been the greatest challenge to the continued development of the wine industry in the UK, which has been growing very successfully over many years.  Under this EU planting ban, UK wine producers would have had to stop any further planting once production exceeded 3.3million bottles (25,000 hectolitres), averaged over 5 years.  Although the EU Commission wanted to get rid of the planting restrictions, they were forced to compromise and extend the ban to 2015, in order to get other reforms through, which are designed to make EU production more competitive.

The Planting Ban was introduced in the EU in 1999 in response to the over production of poor quality wine in the larger member state producing countries which resulted in the infamous ‘wine lake’.  The current EU Wine Reform, introduced by EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, aims to revive the languishing European wine industry.  Meanwhile, the UK has been steadily producing more and more quality wine, especially within the sparkling wine sector, and demand from both domestic and overseas markets has never been higher.  The UK’s representative industry body, the UK Vineyards Association (UKVA), therefore argued that capping the expansion of this vibrant industry, which is completely unsubsidised, would fly in the face of the new Common Agricultural Policy.

The UKVA has worked closely with Defra, the NFU and MEPs to lobby against the restrictions.  Bob Lindo, Chairman of the UKVA Council said, “If you had told me at the beginning of our campaign that we would get virtually all of our demands in such a short time, then I wouldn’t have believed you.  The House of Lords Select Committees were right ‘on side’ from the very beginning.  Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat (and UKIP) MPs, MEPs and Peers all supported us and many others as a result of our media campaign. 

“It shows what can be achieved when we all sing from the same hymn sheet, and we should never underestimate just what has been achieved.”

Mike Roberts of RidgeView Wine Estate, and one of the key members of the UKVA’s EU Wine Reform Working Group, commented: “Our recent and current rate of planting will yield a production of over 4 million bottles by 2012 – an increase of over 100% of our present production.  Further expansion is planned for this and the next years and we foresee our production may well double again.  The UK is producing and building a demand for what is now recognised as world-class and competitive wines, without any subsidy or market assistance from the EU.  We have fulfilled the prime objective of the EU Commission’s wine reform – to have European countries produce what the consumer wants.   The EU has acknowledged our efforts by exempting us from the planting ban.” 

EU wine reform amendments have also lifted bans on unlisted grape varieties, as well as the listing of grape varieties and vintage on table wine labels.  These reform measures have been put in place to increase the competitiveness of European wines in the face of stiff competition from New World producers. 

The lifting of the ban shows the credibility that English and Welsh wines have built up and will encourage the continued development of the UK’s wine industry.