English Vineyards
Discussion
Visited Biddenden vineyard in Kent recently and was very impressed with their wines especially the sparkling white wine at 15 quid a bottle. Could quite easily drink that instead of champers. Has anyone else visited any english vineyards and if so, how good were they? I'm surprised just how many vineyards are down south and english wine seems to be improving each year. Less 'drink miles' and all that!
I've been to Halfpenny Green (http://www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk/) in Staffs recently.
Probably not the right season to go, but fancied a different day out.
Pleasant experience all round. Went on the tour for £2 and had a free try of all the wines afterwards. There's a craft centre, and fabulous mini garden centre. Best bit for me was the 'snoggable garlic' which you can buy there - no after taste or after smell!
Probably not the right season to go, but fancied a different day out.
Pleasant experience all round. Went on the tour for £2 and had a free try of all the wines afterwards. There's a craft centre, and fabulous mini garden centre. Best bit for me was the 'snoggable garlic' which you can buy there - no after taste or after smell!
Of places I've visited, you've got Denbies near Dorking (largest UK estate and very well organised), Chapeldown near Tenterden in Kent and Camel Valley near Bodmin in Devon are also good. All are producing very drinkable and award-winning whites & sparkling now, and I recommend them to anyone who wants to do the decent thing and buy British without compromising quality. It's a shame that the wine is still £3-4 more expensive than mass produced Auussie or Franch equivalents, but as you can imagine the volumes and economies of scale are far less.
What I have found is that the best vintages, such as the 2005 due to the "perfect" weather that year, sell out quickly, but it does seem they are achieving some consistency now.
What I have found is that the best vintages, such as the 2005 due to the "perfect" weather that year, sell out quickly, but it does seem they are achieving some consistency now.
Forgot to add. I have yet to try a British Red I have found in any way drinkable. However, if Global Warming has its way, we ouoght to be drinking Burgundy quality Pinots within the next 20 years. I can't wait.
BTW - I found some info about some recent news about UK wine awards here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/news.htm
There are over 300 UK vineyards. A map & listing of them is here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/vineyardregion...
I'm sure they all appreciate some custom.
BTW - I found some info about some recent news about UK wine awards here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/news.htm
There are over 300 UK vineyards. A map & listing of them is here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/vineyardregion...
I'm sure they all appreciate some custom.
prand said:
Forgot to add. I have yet to try a British Red I have found in any way drinkable. However, if Global Warming has its way, we ouoght to be drinking Burgundy quality Pinots within the next 20 years. I can't wait.
BTW - I found some info about some recent news about UK wine awards here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/news.htm
There are over 300 UK vineyards. A map & listing of them is here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/vineyardregion...
I'm sure they all appreciate some custom.
It justs need a few more establishments/restaurants to stock top notch english wines and I think it will in time become very fashionable. Long gone are the days of Country Manor! IIRC James May and Oz Clarke (Big Wine Adventure)are going to do a series on English wines/beers/ciders. If so it'll be a great one to watch and should raise the profile of english wine (or damage it lol).
BTW - I found some info about some recent news about UK wine awards here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/news.htm
There are over 300 UK vineyards. A map & listing of them is here: http://www.englishwineproducers.com/vineyardregion...
I'm sure they all appreciate some custom.
It justs need a few more establishments/restaurants to stock top notch english wines and I think it will in time become very fashionable. Long gone are the days of Country Manor! IIRC James May and Oz Clarke (Big Wine Adventure)are going to do a series on English wines/beers/ciders. If so it'll be a great one to watch and should raise the profile of english wine (or damage it lol).
Can also recommend wines from http://www.tiltridge.com/index.html
Don said:
I want to spend a weekend here.
Did a weekend there a few years ago, very nice place, excellent restaurant too. We had the MX-5 at the time, so were limited as to how much we could bring back, but the wine was really excellent, quite surprised at how good it was to be honest. threesixty said:
Wyken Vineyard in suffolk is worth a look, good restaurant there and a good farmers market.
Not actually that into their wine myself, alot of people say its good but its not my thing. But its definitely a good spot to visit.
Eaten their a few times and very good.Not actually that into their wine myself, alot of people say its good but its not my thing. But its definitely a good spot to visit.
Edited by threesixty on Friday 30th May 22:41
The wine is not bad, to very full bodied and expensive in comparison.
Having said that, the white is very refreshing on a hot day
We visited the Three Choirs a few days ago and I was really impressed with the quality of the wine and the place itself. We did the nature trail/vineyard walk (in the blazing sun) which was both informative and really enjoyable, and we then got to try 5 wines. We bought a few bottles at very reasonable cost and again, as with Biddenden, the sparkling wine seemed in my opinion to be the best. The reds were abit 'smooth' but in a weak way, if that makes sense. They seem to miss that 'kick' in taste which you usually get when trying a really good red. I definately think British vineyards are on the way up. If Three Choirs are doing over 250,000 bottles a year there's obviously a market.
Apparently there are 300 vineyards in the UK, so I intend to visit a few more. One has to lower the wine miles and all that!
Apparently there are 300 vineyards in the UK, so I intend to visit a few more. One has to lower the wine miles and all that!
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