English Wine Week, Part One

Weald refrigeration came across this very interesting blog on English Wine Week . and new it would make great reading for many of our clients.

Did you know we have an English Wine Week its an annual celebration of the great things our country has to offer when it comes to all things wine.

This year it ran from 20th to 28th June) its aim is to raise awareness of the quality wines and wine producing regions here in England, as well as providing an opportunity for Weald Refrigeration to get to know English wine a little better.

In normal circumstances, some of the best vineyards up and down the country open their doors to the public for tastings and tours.

You’d likely find local restaurants and hotels prioritising their English wines with fantastic food and wine pairings for you to enjoy. And rightly so. We have every reason to be proud of our produce!

This year, as we’re sure you’ll understand, is slightly different to years gone by. That said, we’re still more than happy to take part and share all that is great about English wine. Here’s an overview of what you can expect.

Spearheaded by the growth of our traditionally-made sparkling wine, the UK wine industry is on the up. Our green pastures are slowly becoming a globally-recognised base of quality wine.

With year-on-year growth and an increasing number of vineyards and bottles being produced, the concern for the English wine industry is no longer that it is sub-standard, but more that it needs to meet demand!

English wines have become widely-known as a quality alternative to Champagne. It’s safe to say we give the French a good run for their money! In fact, English fizz recently topped Champagne in the 2018 Sommelier Wine Awards, capping off several years of significant advancements and helping to build a steadily growing reputation.

The majority of English wine is produced in the South and South East. Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey are among the more recognised counties. These are typically warmer parts of the UK with more sunlight and less rain. With the impact of global warming and rise in average temperatures coming into effect, growing grapes has become a little more accessible.

This has resulted in the emergence of newer vineyards further north. Key areas to keep an eye on are East Anglia and South West England – great things are expected to happen here!

Part two coming soon.