As we begin to ease ourselves out of lockdown and pubs and
restaurants start to welcome us again, I feel it is more important than ever
that we support our local businesses. Regardless of the impact on my waistline,
I have been doing my bit, notching up over 20 pub meals, outside, in the last
four weeks. The fact that I detest the great outdoors is testament to my
commitment.
The month of June heralds the annual English Wine Week celebrations across the
country. Back in the 1980s, I can well recall the mild amusement when I
introduced English wines to visiting dignitaries while cooking at the British
Embassy to the United Nations in New York. Thankfully, this is no longer the
case. Once spoken of in derisory terms, English wines have now truly come into
their own, gaining international awards, particularly when it comes to
sparkling wines made by the traditional Champagne method.
Even without the prospect of the Glastonbury Festival this year, the month of
June itself offers plenty of reasons for us to celebrate, including Father’s Day,
the Summer Solstice and Midsummer’s Day.
Whilst many places remain closed or continue to restrict access, there are
still plenty of opportunities to sample local English wines. Some sites offer
tours and picnic areas suitable for a family day out, and the notion of a truly
English picnic with our scrumptious local produce from small producers is very
appealing. Let’s hope the weather improves!
With wine tourism increasingly providing a way to keep the pennies rolling in,
some vineyards now also offer accommodation, ideal for putting up visitors and
not so far to stagger to bed after a tipple or two.
By comparison with our European neighbours, English wines do not come cheap for
many reasons, but at around £3-4 a glass they do offer better value than much
of the cheap plonk often on offer in pubs and restaurants.
Sadly, although local ciders are readily obtainable, there seem to be few local
establishments offering local wines, but after some research I was delighted to
find that
Blackmore Farm at Cannington (01278 653442) does offer Oatley Vineyards wine,
Jane’s. Gaining a Bronze medal in the 2020 WineGB Awards, this light-bodied
wine is made from 100% Madeleine Angevine grapes which are hand-picked and
fermented in stainless steel, giving a clean, crisp, dry, white wine with
vibrant fruit and lemon notes. Very quaffable and a good match for spicy food.
If you are able to visit the vineyard for a tour and tasting (by appointment
only) there are several other of their popular wines to sample.
Nearby, Wraxall Vineyard, situated between the Mendip and Quantock Hills,
offers several bottle fermented wines made by the traditional method. Their
Rosé Sparkling Wine is a dry pale blush wine with a hint of wild strawberry on
the nose and lovely fruit flavours, with a long finish. The Somerset Sparkling
Wine is refreshingly dry wine made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc,
and is characterised by soft bubbles and gentle fruit flavours with a long
finish.
Over at Langport, the vineyard at Higher Plot, planted in 2008 by Guy Smith and
Laura Evans, has long been recognised as a special place that achieves early
ripening and high-quality fruit. Here they cultivate the Burgundian grape
varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, to produce an elegant
sparkling wine, which spends 2½ years in the bottle on its lees before
disgorgement.
Last, but by no means least, and in keeping with the ancient tradition of
making wines from wild fruits, Avalon Wines, overlooking Glastonbury Tor and
the Somerset levels, is a great source for wines made from elderberry,
blackberry, and plums. Although often shunned by connoisseurs, if made with
care and attention, to ensure a good balance of acidity and sweetness, these
wines can make a pleasant change. The many varieties on offer run the full
gamut from dry to sweet. Also on offer are their fruit liqueurs which are rich
and intensely flavoured, providing the perfect post-prandial finale to a fine
day of celebration.
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