Let’s be honest. A couple of glasses of vino can add a special touch to an evening with friends, family and lovers whether it’s at home or in a fancy restaurant.
What would the world be if the Romans hadn’t introduced the vine to Britain nearly 2,000 years ago? There’d be no English Wine Week (25th May – 2nd June), that’s for sure – a chance for us Brits to “think, drink English” and visit our thriving vineyards and wineries.
“Clean and fresh with grapefruit zest, green apples, white blossom and meadow grass” may sound like a soap or shampoo ad, but believe it or not, they’re some notes from a recent tasting of English wines. It’s amazing to think there’s any English wine at all after our recent “summer” weather, but apparently a warm September can save a harvest.
Many of us, at the mention of English wine, remember it as fairly dreadful stuff. But how times have changed, largely owing to professionalism among winemakers, better sites and modern kit. In fact, Waitrose is one of the largest retailers, stocking several English labels nationally; it also sells local wines within their own regions.
Believe it or not, there are more than 400 wineries dotted around this green and pleasant land, in places such as Devon, Kent, Cornwall, Sussex, Oxfordshire, to name just a few. And nearly 30 different British wine varieties are on offer, including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Triomphe.
English Wine Week 2013 will see loads of fine wineries championing their own home grown wines, with doors to the public opening from 25th May until 2nd June this year. Many will offer talks, tours and tastings, and so you don’t have to drive home afterwards, some provide farmhouse guest rooms and other places to stay among the vines.
More of a champagne lover? Fret not. While we don’t call our English sparkling wines by that name, there are some great contenders. Across the UK, a variety of vineyards nestle in the hills, producing award-winning sparkling wines that regularly outdo the finest champagnes in international competitions. Business is booming.
White, red, dry or sweet, this year, it’s important to have a decent set of wine glasses to serve up those English wines. Many online retailers, such as GoneDigging, provide engraved wine glasses, which can be personalised with a special message along with a name of your choice. Surely that makes a difference from a bog-standard glass? And aside from wine glasses, you can also get your mitts on engraved champagne flutes just as easily.
So you see? There’s no need to go gallivanting all the way to France to enjoy a vineyard tour – British wines are winning international awards! If you can’t make it to any of the events and vineyards, you can always savour a great bottle of wine with some delicious home cooked grub. Chink, chink!
Why not crack open a bottle of personalised red, white or rosé wine from GoneDigging to celebrate a special occasion? Okay, so it might not be English wine, but it’s available in three delicious varieties. And how about serving your vino in our plush engraved glasses?