My eyes were first opened up to the greater possibilities of Portugal‘s wines some years back when I first attended their annual wine show at Lord’s. I was a mere wine store manager at the time, looking to expand my palate’s experience of Portuguese grapes as the company I was working for at the time had, shall we say, a poor representation from Portugal.

Last year an old colleague got in contact with me. He was looking at moving back to the UK from Portugal as the nation’s economy was in a dire state, and still is. He wanted to get back into the UK wine trade, potentially set up his own business offering Portuguese wines and cuisines via his contacts from back home. First he needed a place to stay, so I offered him a room.

As he settled into his new digs he kept banging on at me about Portuguese wines. One afternoon he took it upon himself to send me some info regarding suppliers, wine data etc, and when I say some I mean within 20 minutes my inbox was full. I never asked for any of this but I’m happy to take a look. Now I’m one of these chaps who will take an interest, if I find something interesting. If you start pushing it though I’ll start backing off to the point where I will begin to lose total interest, and I lost interest, that was until a couple of weeks ago when I attended the portfolio tasting of UK supplier, Stevens Garnier.

Over 120 wines from the Stevens Garnier range were made available for tasting including some fine Ports, easy-drinking

Rioja’s Bodegas LAN

Riojas from Bodegas LAN, fresh Touraine wines by Domaine Joёl Delauney, some intriguing fare coming across from Brazil’s Vinicola Aurora – Bento Gonçalves, Chile’s Los Boldos, home to one of my favourite Sauvignons from a couple of years ago and, but more importantly, a range of cool Portuguese wines to enlighten the most humblest of palates from right across the peninsula’s board.

The depth and quality of a tasting can usually be established within the first 10 to 15 minutes for me. If I’m not “feeling it” in that time frame, I know I’m going to get bored and will try and head for the door in under two hours, hit me with some top tipples and my attention span will stretch. That is what I found with these Portuguese wines.

Quinta dos Carvalhais – Dão got me off to a good start with their Duque de Viseu Branco and Tinto wines. Retailing for around £8.99 these wines delivered good value for money and quality. The tinto in particularly showed an eclectic balance of mixed berry fruit aromas; red, black, forest, you name it and it was there. The palate focused more on black fruit flavours with a touch of spice and a clean tidy finish. My highlight came through their 2011 Jaen. A light concentration of sweet jammy red fruit on the nose with nice hit of red fruit and spice on the mouth, very easy and elegant – rrp £19.99 and worth every penny!

Herdade do Peso – Alentejo had me staring longingly out of the window as the sun, that’s right the mystical sun, beat down on the RIBA ofiices. If there was ever a wine ideally suited for the summer season then it was Herdade’s 2011 Vinha do Monte Branco. Coming in with a very reasonable rrp of £8.99 the nose was full of ripe summer goodness, soft pears and lychees while the palate was all about the citrus fruit topped off with a touch of white pepper. Salads, pasta and white meat dishes will never be the same again!

The Douro wasn’t to be ignored with Casa Ferreirinha’s 2011 Papa Figos – rrp £10.99. Get your nose in and sniff, then sniff some more! Hopefully you will find some green, earthy aromas like peas and damp vegetation followed by soft black fruit, cherries and pepper. The fruit dominates the palate culminating in a wine with lovely fresh acidity. Very good!

As all this was going on, effervescent wine writer and IWC co-founder Charles Metcalfe was hosting a masterclass aptly

Charles Metcalfe

titled Icons of Iberia. The small group of participants were allowed the luxury of tasting wines that have been recognised by the industry as iconic Iberian wines from within their borders, just as the title suggests!

Ten wines, a mixed flight of still and fortified, were generously selected for our amusement from both Spain and Portugal, and where absolutely no expense was spared! The first two wines, Legado 2009 and Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 2009 would retail at around £270 and £275 respectively, while the 1920 Porto Ferreira Vintage Port was priceless, looked like mud but tasted great, point of fact here, this baby still had time on its side too, fair to say we were off to a good start! Metcalfe was on hand to share his expansive enthusiastic expertise on all things Iberian, giving a brief history of the founding of Stevens Garnier parent company, Portugal’s Sogrape, to discussing in depth all 10 wines tasted. A highly entertaining session!

All in all the tasting was very enjoyable, proof was there to be seen by all as I sipped my way around for longer than my two-hour boredom benchmark. But a lesson to be learnt too! When over enthusiastic people try and push you in a direction to which you are not accustomed to, sometimes, instead of standing firm, it’s best to go with the flow. Portuguese wines aren’t good actually, they are great, fact!

Story by me!

Featured in Harpers Wine & Spirit Trades Review Online Industry Blog

Event organised by www.phillips-hill.co.uk

 www.harpers.co.uk

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In addition to the main tasting, a sparkling wine sommelier masterclass will take place from 10.30 to 11.45am showing up to ten sparkling wines. This will be followed by an agent and importer tasting from 4 to 6pm. The main tasting is open to all press and trade representing the on and off‐trades who are interested in sampling the excellent
and often surprising wines that Canada has to offer.
As noted by wine writer Stephen Brook who commented, “Canada has long been out of the ‘Promising Newcomer’ category. Its white wines from decidedly cool zones can be thrilling, and Pinot Noir gets better from year to year. These are wines we all need to discover.”
With reference to their suitability and relevance to the UK market, Gerard Basset OBE MW MS added, “I have discovered some superb wineries and producers with both flair and talent during my recent tour of Canadian wine regions. Some of the wines were truly delicious and would fit nicely on the wine lists of some of our best restaurants, here in
the UK.”

For further information, quotes or images please contact:
Alex Layton at Westbury Communications
E: alex.layton@westburycom.co.uk, canada@westburycom.co.uk
T: 0208 682 9020

 www.westburycom.co.uk

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Claude Giraud “ There are no great wines without great forest. Argonne has vinified and matured great wines of Champagne during their epic. Its siliceous soil, so particular, gives to its oak trees a more delicate and thinner texture than the Tronçais. Since the 17th century, our forest has unquestionably contributed to the excellence aura of the great wines of Champagne. At the beginning of XXth century, there were up to 180 coopers in Florent en Argonne; but at the end of 1950, the fine and white foam became the international symbol of Peace, Liberty and Parties. The expansion preferred steel and stainless steel vats and the thankless Champenois abandoned their forest and changed the thread of History.”
“ Nowadays, Champagne has taken the decision to turn back to excellence, to its growth, so casks are back! It is a good thing….but many wine storehouses are composed of seasoned casks coming from some Châteaux of Bordeaux to be fashionable.”

“ Thus, I want to make a call to growers and to bigger brands: Champagne does not need any make-up from Bordeaux or other regions. This is a sacrilege. Aiming back excellence is a mean to resume the private links between the growths of champagne and Argonne. This fantastic forest has given birth to our wines and has been protective to us. To succeed in reaching excellence in Champagne, we have to enter in the heart of History. Let’s invest in the patrimony of Argonne Forest ! ”
“ In partnership with the National Forest Office, which pioneer in sustainable development has been looking after and has guaranteed our patrimony since XIVth century, we are planting today, as a symbol, a new Giraud oak. It will carry the message and will become for the next centuries, one of those little white stones on which the fine thread of history of the great wines of champagne will clutch hold of.”

For further information please contact VitaBella / 0033.1.45.65.39.72

Press release from www.vitabella.fr

Henners Vintage Reserve 2009 is a Chardonnay dominant cuvée (70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir), created to complement their Pinot dominant Vintage 2009 (33% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Meunier) which was released in 2012. The Vintage Reserve, which won a Silver medal in last year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, has been given an additional year on its lees in bottle in order for the Chardonnay in the blend to develop a fuller complexity.  Lawrence Warr, owner and winemaker at Henners adds his comments on the wine: “The Vintage Reserve is a truly elegant wine, with citrus and yeast on the nose, a wonderfully fine and soft mousse, a honeyed and biscuitty palate with almond sweetness, and an outstandingly long finish.”  Both wines scored in the top 12 of 79 English sparkling wines tasted blind in the recent Judgement of Parsons Green, organised by Stephen Skelton MW.

The 2010 Rosé is a Blanc de Noirs, produced from 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Pinot Meunier and created by Henners to be an elegant summer sparkler, with forward red berry fruits. It excelled in the recent Decanter English Sparkling Wine tasting (May edition), with the following review:

“Excellent, Powerful, fruity nose. Tangy acidity and restrained red fruit, very classically styled. Lovely, focused and expressive plum fruit, with great depth of flavour and complexity. Great balance and with flavours that fill the mouth to the end.” – Score 17.25 (90+) – Highly Recommended.

These three wines are the first releases from this already award-winning sparkling wine producer, based near Herstmonceaux in Sussex.  Henners Vintage 2009 gained a Silver medal in both the Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge last year, and scored the second highest marks in the same Decanter English Sparkling Wine panel tasting this spring, with the following review:

“Yeasty, toasty, full-on autolytic nose with ripe, superbly expressive fruit, herbs and aniseed. The palate is excellent and full, with a leesy texture, fine balance and toasty notes on the finish. Classic, stylish.” – Score 17.75 (92) – Highly Recommended.

All three wines will be on show for the first time at the English Wine Producers Trade & Press Tasting in London on 9^th May, and Lawrence Warr will also be present to introduce and talk through the wines.

Henners wines are available through Boutinot (www.boutinot.com).

For further information, or to arrange to meet Lawrence Warr at the trade tasting, please contact tel: 01323 831746, or email larrywarr@hennersvineyard.co.uk

Press release from www.englishwineproducers.com

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UK resident Julia Harding MW worked as a book editor specialising in languages and linguistics before turning her attention to wine. After five years with UK supermarket Waitrose in their wine-buying department, she became Jancis Robinson’s full-time researcher, co-ordinator and associate palate in 2005. She has worked on the most most recent editions of The Oxford Companion to Wine and The World Atlas of Wine, contributes to http://www.JancisRobinson.com, and co-authored Wine Grapes with Jancis Robinson MW and Dr. José Vouillamoz. She lectures, mentors MW students and has judged many wine competitions around the world.

Dr. José Vouillamoz is a Swiss grape geneticist; he worked with the ground-breaking team of grape geneticists at the University of California, Davis, and is a botanist and grape expert of international reknown. With co-authors Jancis Robinson MW and Julia Harding MW he wrote Wine Grapes, which includes details about some 300 previously unpublished relationships between different grape varieties. A keynote speaker at EWBC 2012 in Izmir (Turkey), Dr. Vouillamoz comments: “EWBC is like a beehive for wine knowledge: everybody is willing to contribute with some pollen and nectar, to transform it into honey and to share it enthusiastically with the other workers. I am thrilled to be a bee at EWBC.”

Kansas City-based author Doug Frost MS MWwrites and lectures about wine, beer and spirits (he is one of only three people in the world to hold both the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles). From jobs as a bartender, waiter and wine steward in the late 1970s he progressed to become a fine wine wholesaler for 14 years. He has published a number of books, including Far From Ordinary: The Spanish Wine Guide, the third edition of which was released in late 2011. A contributor to many publications including the Oxford Companion of Wine and Hugh Johnson’s World Atlas of Wine, he also provides consultancy to retailers, restaurateurs and wineries on marketing, merchandising, sales, education and sensory perception.

American Tim Hanni MW is a professionally-trained chef who has been involved with wine- and food-related businesses, education and research for over 35 years. His techniques for creating wine lists and retail wine programmes are combined with culinary philosophies on balancing food and wine flavours; these techniques were the foundation for creating Vignon, a flavour-balancing seasoning. Hanni is recognised for introducing the concept of the “umami” taste to the wine and food community; he lectures on flavour balancing, sensory sciences, wine and culinary history, and his latest book, “Why You Like The Wines You Like”, examines the physiological and psychological aspects of flavour preference.

Robert Joseph developed an interest in wine while growing up in his parent’s hotel in the UK. He spent six years in Burgundy, learning about its wines and working with US broker Becky Wasserman, before returning to the UK where he subsequently launched what became Wine International magazine, founded the International Wine Challenge competition, became wine writer for the Sunday Telegraph, and wrote some 30 books. He is Contributing Editor for Wine Business International, and has chaired over 50 wine competitions across the globe. His blog is The Joseph Report.

Jesús Barquín is a leading figure in Spanish food and wine circles (in 2006 he was awarded the National Gastronomy Prize for his contribution to the diffusion of Spanish food and wine culture around the world). He has written and contributed to many books, magazines and newspapers in Spain, the UK, USA, Puerto Rico, and Chile, including The Finest Wines of Rioja and NW Spain, The World of Fine Wine and El Mundo. He is also involved in wine production, co-leading the Equipo Navazos who make the “La Bota de…” collection, a very-well received series of limited selections from Andalusian bodegas. Jesús won the 2010 edition of the Vila Viniteca Wine Tasting Competition for Pairs, and is member of the Spanish team, runner-up in 2009 and 2010 in the European Tasting Championship. His day job is as professor of criminal law at the University of Granada; he has authored several books and many articles on criminal law and criminology.

Press Release from the office of Louise Hutton.

Enjoy!

Michel Chapoutier declared “For Sélections Parcellaires, the ‘En Primeurs offer’ makes sense just like it used to be in Bordeaux: it is a way to buy wines with a great potential, at an affordable price, before international wine critics start publishing their own opinion. At Chapoutier, we want to perpetuate the En Primeur tradition for wine lovers who want to get an access to some bottles of our best limited single vineyards.”

The world’s most admired French wine brand (in Drinks International – March 2013) proposes prestigious names such as La Mordorée, Pavillon, De L’Orée, L’Ermite, Le Méal, Barbe-Rac from the 2012 vintage. These wines will be delivered from 2015. Since 2010, Sélection parcellaire Coteau de Chéry in Condrieu has found its place among the Primeurs alongside V.I.T in Côtes du Roussillon and L-Block from Terlato estate & Chapoutier in Australia.

Press Release issued by www.vitabella.fr

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Probably the closest to cool that vermouth has gotten would be when Sean Connery first muttered the iconic phrase in Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger, “Martini, shaken, not stirred!”

Before you start screaming, I am aware that a Martini is a gin and vermouth cocktail, just trying to give some context. The total opposite to cool would be the comedic adverts of the late 70′s, early 80′s featuring Leonard Rossiter and Joan Collins. The five year TV drive examined the numerous ways on how we could spill a Cinzano down Collins’ front. George Clooney did his bit to add some glamour during the mid-noughties with his campaign for Martini. Even so, the notion of a Cinzano, or Martini for that fact, engaging the younger drinker is still well off the mark; after all, the perception being, it’s what your dad drinks!

Restaurateur, Peter Hughes, aims to change this view with his Soho based Italian Trattoria, Mele e Pere, Brewer Street, London. Along with head sommelier, Ed Scothern, they have undertaken the task of re-introducing vermouth to a mass audience by rolling out monthly masterclasses. Commencing this April, the sessions will give paying enthusiasts a two hour journey into vermouth, including some of the history and the different styles, recipes that go to producing this 260 year old libation.

Vermouth is a fortified wine using an Italian white wine base of either Garganega or Trebianno; infused and flavoured with Wormwood and other aromatic herbs and botanicals.

At £15 per person, Scothern will introduce tasters to three styles of Vermouth and a vermouth based cocktail. To accompany these wines a selection of sharing plates; spicy fried Ascolana olives, deep fried squid with smoked aioli and San Daniele ham, are laid out for each wine course.

As each glass is poured, Scothern passes around individual plates of aromatics that are used to flavour the vermouths including; Hysser, Speedwell Flower, Angelica, Rhubarb Root and Gentian, allowing the taster to discern each characteristic from each glass of wine.

First up for tasting is a white wine infused with lemons. The combination of wine and lemons has produced an easy drinking wine; light, distinctive lemon aromas and flavours, surprisingly low in acidity but with an incredible smooth and clean mouthfeel. Very enjoyable and very moreish!

Following on I had the red, well more amber in colour than red but still. The aromatic, botanicals notes were more apparent on the nose and palate; gin, orange and lemon zest flavours, a wine of great character and yet still very fresh and rather nice.

Before the cocktail comes we have the sweetie, the dessert wine. In terms of taste, think of a Tawny Port without those nutty flavours! Instead we have added notes of citrus orange spice. I would categorise this as more a medium sweet wine as opposed to an out and out sweetie. It doesn’t stick but again there is a cool freshness to it. Beautiful!

Finally, the cocktail, The Martinez! Two thirds red vermouth to a third gin. The gin characters are very prevalent on the nose whilst the palate has a slight sweetness to it, yet maintaining a dryness that will have you begging for the summer sun. For the G&T drinkers amongst us, give this a go, it’s a great alternative.

If you are looking for something new and different to do this year, which is also great value for money, then this is ideal. I was taken aback by the quality and level of vermouths tasted. Ed delivers a well thought out session, sharing his passion and expertise for a beverage pretty much ignored. The setting is well laid out and has a vibrant energy to it.

Another thing that stood out for me was the youthfulness of both proprietor and teacher. It’s a young business with young passionate people incorporating an old notion from a traditional, classical continental food source. Don’t be fooled if you walk past Mele e Pere and see it empty from the outside. Wander on in as the party is going on downstairs around the copper bar, everyone’s invited!

Story by me!

Featured in Harpers Wine & Spirit Trades Review Online Industry Blog

 www.harpers.co.uk

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 www.vitabella.fr

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Sitting in the splendour of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Picadilly, London, Jascots hosted its February trade and press tasting. The canny buyers had given us 23 new wines from their extensive list to muse over. Amongst the new lines tasted were wines from Chablis’ Domaine Vrignaud, including two Fourchaume 1er Crus; Rocca Trebbiano from Puglia, Italy; Goleta Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley, Chile; San Donà Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy – a nutty, citrus, bubblegum flavoursome little number, worth noting, and a classy Spätburgunder Trocken from Von Buhl, Pfalz, Germany. Besides these though, Jascots do seem to have unearthed a wee, affordable gem that should fit Joe Publics budget criteria quite nicely.

As I trawled my way through the newbies I discovered the fresh and fruity delights of Maison Sabadie, an entry level collection of reserve blended wines; red, white and rosé, that would set even the tightest of all spenders back around a very reasonable £6.99 a bottle (off trade).

I found the Maison Sabadie Réserve White, Vin de France to have soft notes of apricot and elderflower on the nose, young, green bitter citrus fruit on the palate with clean, fresh acidity.

While the Maison Sabadie Réserve Rosé, Vin de France had light red berries aromas with easy, fresh acidity and a slight bitter finish and the Maison Sabadie Réserve Red, Vin de France had soft black fruit and black cherry aromas; echoed on the palate too.

These wines are uncomplicated and yet very quaffable, a joy to the budget spender what with spring and summer on the horizon. Independents will no doubt be thinking about the months ahead, what to offer their clientele for the barbeque season; these wines will do the job very well.

Other wines from the new range that stood out for me include

Arabella Rosé Pink Panacea, Western Cape, South Africa – Light, green herbaceous aromas, more in keeping with a traditional Sauvignon Blanc, fresh sweet red berry fruit on the palate. Dry with really good acidity and a bizarre nutty finish plus white peppery spice. RRP – £7.90

Valchetta Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina – The nose exhibits rich sweet and sour cherry fruit. Juicy black fruit and caramel flavours, spice, slight woody notes, huge depth of character. RRP – £8.70

Spätburgunder Trocken, QbA, Von Buhl, Pfalz, Germany – Straight away, looks like an aged Pinot Noir. Soft red fruit aromas; easy yet juicy red fruit flavours. Light body but does carry a bit of a punch. Thoroughly enjoyable. RRP – £16.95

Rocca Sangiovese, Puglia, Italy – A mix of deep, dark red and black fruit; full and rich on the palate with with black fruit and liquorice flavours. Not over the top, a good Sangiovese. RRP – £7.15

In all, the value on offer for the new range is very accessible. As I mentioned at the top value is key in a budget restricted society. Jascots have gone out of their way to find a good range of affordable wines where nearly half come in under an RRP of £10.

Find out more at www.jascots.co.uk

Story by me!

Featured in Harpers Wine & Spirit Trades Review Online Industry Blog

 www.harpers.co.uk

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Five of England’s producers will be coming together on the English Wine Producers stand, which will include established brands and a new producer launching their first wine:  Bolney Wine Estate; Chapel Down; Gusbourne Estate; Hattingley Valley Wines and Ridgeview Wine Estate.  Some of these producers have already developed sales within a number of overseas markets, whilst others are keen to incorporate export as part of their marketing strategy.

The EWP stand will incorporate the statement ‘This is England’ to reflect the confidence that the English wine industry now enjoys, following many years of successful sales, competition wins and media interest both in the UK and abroad.

Visitors to ProWein will be able to meet representatives from each of the producers.  EWP will also have an area within the stand to provide a welcome to the wine industry and background support to the exhibiting producers.

A broad selection of wines of different styles from the five producers will be on show, providing an exciting showcase for some of the best sparkling and still wines in the country.

“We are particularly proud to be exhibiting at ProWein this year.  The line up of producers and their award-winning wines will display the confidence and professionalism that this industry represents”, commented Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of English Wine Producers. “This is the first time that EWP has exhibited collectively at an overseas wine trade show – and being at one of the most important international wine exhibitions - and being at one of the most important international wine exhibitions is a significant move for our producers, and will reinforce England’s place on the world wine stage.”

The English wine industry has been growing steadily in the last decade, with acreage nearly doubling in the last eight years, and volumes predicted to double by 2016.  Significant medal and trophy successes in international competitions over the last 15 years have secured a reputation for quality and consistency for England’s wines.

The EWP stand will be located in Hall 6 – stand no 6 D04.

 www.prowein.com.

Bolney Wine Estate, Sussex (www.bolneywineestate.co.uk)

Bolney is a long established wine estate, with the first vineyard planted in the early 1970’s. Bolney produces still and sparkling wines, in all cases red, white and rosé. They are currently UK Wine Producer of the Year in the 2012 International Wine & Spirit Competition, and have achieved many competition medals both here and overseas.

Chapel Down, Kent (www.chapeldown.com)

Chapel Down is one of the best known brands in the UK, and one of the largest producers.  They are based in Kent, where the vineyards on site were first planted in the 1960’s. Chapel Down boast an extensive range of still and sparkling wines.  All their sparkling wines are produced using the traditional Champagne varieties (some also include Pinot Blanc).  They have won numerous awards over the years.  Chapel Down currently export to the Far East as well as being well distributed throughout the UK in larger retailers as well as independent wine merchants and on restaurant lists.

Gusbourne Estate, Kent (www.gusbourne.com)

One of the newer generation of sparkling wine producers, Gusbourne is currently a 20 ha vineyard, first planted in 2002, located on 3 different, well selected sites on a larger estate of some 200ha.  Only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are planted and most of what they produce is sparkling – a classic blend of the three varieties, a Blanc de Blancs and a rosé.   Lately they have also produced a still red (Pinot Noir) and a still Chardonnay.  Gusbourne’s Blanc de Blanc took a Gold medal and Trophy at last year’s Decanter World Wine Awards.

Hattingley Valley, Hampshire (www.hattingleyvalley.co.uk)

The first wine from Hattingley Valley has not yet been released – so ProWein will be first showcase event for this exciting new producer.  Hampshire is a county that is now emerging as a significant wine producing region, with topography and soil that lends itself well to the planting of the Champagne varieties and the production of quality sparkling wine.  Hattingley boasts a purpose built winery and an expert winemaking team.

Ridgeview Wine Estate, Sussex (www.ridgeview.co.uk)

This is one of the most established and highly regarded sparkling wine estates in England.  Planted in the early 1990’s, Ridgeview only grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  Ridgeview has a long track record of national and international awards spanning every vintage they have released.  In 2011 Ridgeview was awarded the International Sparkling Wine Trophy in the Decanter World Wine Awards, the first time it had been awarded to a producer outside Champagne.  RidgeView currently export to Scandinavia, the Far East, Australia and Europe.  Their wines have been served at many notable occasions in the UK, such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year.

For further information on EWP and its stand activities over the fair, please contact Julia Trustram Eve on tel: 01536 772264 or email Julia@englishwineproducers.com.

Appointments can be made to meet with representatives of EWP or any of the exhibiting producers.  Please contact Julia Trustram Eve, English Wine Producers as above.

Press release from the offices of English Wine Producers

 www.englishwineproducers.com

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• Press Release: A first for Yorkshire as Leventhorpe Vineyard releases new sparkling Rosé, England. (magicsnewbiewines.com)
• UK Develops Growing Taste For Sparkling Wines (news.sky.com)

Henners, the sparkling wine producer based near Herstmonceaux in East Sussex, has just announced a new concept for English sparkling wine that will in time form a major part of their sparkling wine portfolio.

Multi-Vintage is a blend of the very best base wines from over multiple vintages, selected for their ageing potential, and kept aside as reserve wines. The wines are cellared in bottle at partial pressure on lees, until ready for addition to a Multi-Vintage prestige blend in years to come.

Cellaring reserve wines in this labour intensive manner allows the wines to develop complexity on lees, preventing an oxidation, and so maintaining the greatest elegance and finesse. This differs from non-vintage wines, where the majority of base wine is from one vintage with a smaller percentage of different vintages blended in.

Henners’ first Multi-Vintage wines were cellared in 2011 and are due to be released in 2016.

The wines are all produced from grapes grown at Henners Vineyard.  Currently 10 acres are in production, planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  A further 5 acres will be planted.

Henners was planted in 2007 and released the first of their wines, Vintage 2009, in November 2012.  A further two cuvées from the 2009 vintage – Vintage Reserve and Rosé – will be released later this month.

“As pioneers of Multi-Vintage, we continue our passion for crafting the very finest sparkling wines.  The broad pallet of outstanding reserve wines from multiple vintages allows us to create something very special,” commented Lawrence Warr, Henners’ owner and winemaker.

For further information please contact Lawrence Warr on tel: 01323 831746, or email larrywarr@hennersvineyard.co.uk

Henners wines are distributed through Boutinot. www.boutinot.com

Press release from English Wine Producers

 www.englishwineproducers.com

Welcome to the Harpers newsletter Laura  January 11, 2013

News headlinesBurgundy En Primeur 2011 Tasting Reviews:  To help you keep on top of the large number of Burgundy tastings this month for the 2011 en primeur campaign Harpers is publishing reviews direct from key tastings and related Burgundy events from members of the trade. Jenny Mackenzie of Early Bird Wine News gives her view on this week’s Armit Wines and Berry Bros and Rudd Burgundy tastings while Anne Krebiehl reports from theInstitute of Masters of Wines seminar and debate on Burgundy. Tesco Everyday Value alcohol range not in breach of code, Portman Group rules  The Portman Group has ruled that Tesco’s budget alcohol lines do not breach responsibility rules after a consumer complained that its Everyday Value branding encouraged immoderate consumption. Live news blog: Christmas trading results Keep up to date with how the leading multiples, discounters and specialist retailers did over the Christmas and new year trading period with the Harpers live news blog. Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte boasts strong performance in 2012  Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte has strengthened its position among the leading Champagne brands  by posting its second most successful performance ever for 2012. New Benevolent chairman pledges JF Hillebrand will match customer donations  Drinks logistics firm JF Hillebrand has pledged to match donations made by its customers to The Benevolent as director Chris Porter begins a two-year stint as the charity’s chairman. COMPETITION Last chance to win in Harpers end of year quiz Do you know which movie character was fond of a White Russian? If you do then you stand a chance of winning six bottles of Cloudy Bay Pelorus and lots of other prizes. BLOGS Mike Matthews on the quality of Edinburgh’s wine merchants Take a wander beyond the tourist hotspots and you’ll find the independent wine merchant thriving. My hopes for 2013: Simon Thorpe of Negociants UK on the need to plan ahead  Can you remember what you were doing a decade ago, or would you have an idea as to what you will be doing in 10 years time? I don’t, and secretly I’m quite glad about that – my diary is generally planned a month in advance and any further ahead than that seems too far off.

©William Reed Business Media Ltd 2013. All rights reserved. William Reed Business Media Ltd. Registered office: Broadfield Park, Crawley, RH11 9RT. Registered in England No. 2883992. VAT No. 644 3073 52.

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The top award went to Viña Errazuriz with their Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2010; a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Carmenere and Cabernet Franc.

Errazuriz owner, Eduardo Chadwick says “It’s really a great honour – we are trying to show finesse and quality from Chile and our winemaker and the team are key in doing that. I am really pleased that their efforts have been recognized in this way.”

The wine also scooped the Best Premium Red award category.

This year saw a record number of entries with 615 wines entered, culminating in the highest number of medals awarded during its 10 year history: 10% receiving Gold medals, 28% receiving Silver and 41% receiving Bronze, resulting in an impressive 79% of entrants receiving a medal. “The calibre was of a significantly higher quality this year,” said Mario Pablo Silva, vice president of Vinos de Chile. “Chile’s message of diversity is an accurate description of what this country has to offer.”

European Wines of Chile Director, Michael Cox, went on to say “When we started the Annual Wines of Chile Awards ten years ago we wanted to challenge Chile’s winemakers to stun the world with Chile’s potential. This year’s judges have selected wines that are doing just that – exciting times for Chile!”

Best in the Show
Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2010, Viña Errazuriz

Best Value White
Santa Carolina Reserva Moscato 2012, Santa Carolina

Best Value Red
Oveja Negra Cabernet Franc–Carmenere 2011, VIA Wines

Best in Category Premium White
Cipreses Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Viña Casa Marín

Best in Category Premium Red
Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2010, Viña Errazuriz

Best in Category Sparkling
Santa Digna Estelado 2012, Miguel Torres Chile

Best in Category Rose
Litoral Rosé of Pinot Noir 2012, Viña Ventolera

Best in Category Other White
Santa Carolina Reserva Moscato 2012, Santa Carolina

Best in Category Other Red
Vigno Garcia Schwaderer 2009, Garcia & Schwaderer

Best in Category Syrah
Single Vineyard 2011, Viña Cono Sur / 20 Barrels 2010, Viña Cono Sur

Best in Category Sauvignon Blanc
Outer Limits 2011, Viña Montes

Best in Category Pinot Noir
Cono Sur 20 Barrels 2010, Viña Cono Sur

Best in Category Late Harvest
Erasmo 2008, Viña la Reserva de Caliboro

Best in Category Chardonnay
Aconcagua Costa 2011, Viña Errazuriz

Best in Category Carmenere
Marchigue Private Collection 2011, Viñedos Marchigue

Best in Category Cabernet Sauvignon
Arboleda 2010, Viña Arboleda

Best in Category Blend
Sideral 2009, Viña Altaïr

For more information, and a full list of medal winners, contact:
Michael Cox – michael@winesofchile.org.uk
Anita Jackson – anita@winesofchile.org.uk

 www.winesofchile.org

Story by me!

Press release from the offices of Wines Of Chile UK

Related articles

• Can Chile Break Out of the “Value Wine” Trap? (wineeconomist.com)
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• Chile: A taste of things to come (thedrinksbusiness.com)
• Wines of Chile: Maule Valley (winepeeps.com)

Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa said: “While bulk (i.e. non-packaged) exports accounted for 59% of volumes in 2012, this is in line with a growing global trend. Over the past decade, bulk wine exports from the major New World wine-producing countries had risen from around 20% to over half of wine volumes traded, against the background of protracted recessionary market conditions. The reality we face also confronts Australia, Chile, Argentina and even New Zealand.”

She said while packaged wines generally offered higher returns, local producers had been forced to accept that to compete globally, they had to provide what the mainstream markets wanted. “Obviously we would prefer the accent to be on packaged wines in terms of job retention in the packaging industry and also to maintain sustainable profit margins for producers.  We are therefore greatly encouraged by the recent growth of packaged exports to North America, Japan, China, as well as several increasingly affluent African nations, all to regions where we have been increasing our marketing investment.”

SA Wine Industry & Information Systems (SAWIS) has anticipated that the 2013 wine grape crop should amount to 1 384 357 tons. Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa said: “At this stage, all indications are that this year’s local crop could be the third biggest in recorded history.  This is assuming that good weather conditions continue, there is a speedy and peaceful resolution to the farmworker strikes and harvests come in on time. The anticipated crop size is despite a decrease in total plantings, thanks to one of the best winter seasons in the Western Cape for many years.”

Birch said that while the industry regretted the current labour unrest in the Western Cape, huge strides were being made to ensure decent working conditions on all wine-producing farms. “The local Fairtrade office has confirmed that South Africa now has the highest number of Fairtrade-accredited wineries worldwide, with 65% of Fairtrade wines sold globally coming from our country.”

At the same time, there was steadily growing support for the Wine and Agricultural Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), with increasing numbers of producers subscribing to its code of good conduct, she added.  This was particularly after the international market reacted so positively to last year’s launch of the WIETA ethical seal, a world-first that provides a guarantee of fair labour practices.

“WIETA accreditation for rigorously audited fair labour conditions has accelerated since last year and with the increase in producer and worker training sessions scheduled, prior to auditing sessions, we expect many more labels to qualify during this year.”

Some of the country’s biggest producers have already earned WIETA accreditation for their labels, including Distell, Spier, Fairview and Robertson Winery.

Press release issued by De Kock Communications S.A

On behalf of WOSA.

Related articles

• Press Statement – Wine Industry Committed to Ethical Trade (magicsnewbiewines.com)
• The Last Harvest: South African Vineyard Yields Much More Than Grapes (world.time.com)
• No sign of progress in talks on South Africa farm unrest (nzweek.com)