White Clover One Day Maiden Wine Tour Success

On Saturday 24th January we successfully completed the first English Wine tour of its kind, the ‘White Clover’ one day wine tour. Eight participants were picked up in Lewes after they enjoyed coffee and croissants at a local hotel and driven in a private minibus to Carr Taylor Vineyards, East Sussex. We were lucky enough to be accompanied by winemaker David Carr Taylor, who established the vineyard more than 30 years ago. He guided the group on a lively tour through the vineyards and winery and then treated the group to a tutored tasting of 5 wines including Carr Taylor’s Sparkling Vintage Brut and Elderberry Wine.

After a light lunch, participants were driven to Biddenden Vineyards and Cidermakers in Kent to enjoy another tour of the vineyards, winery and wine tasting. Participants were driven back to Lewes where they received their gift of a complimentary bottle of wine and organic hand made chocolates.

At English Vine Tours we're aiming to promote English wine as a viable alternative to wines from around the world, in addition to developing England’s vineyards as a favoured tourist destination to both a national and international audience. David Carr Taylor, who has been an outspoken supporter said of English Vine Tours that ‘you will not get a better chaparone than Ben and Georgie’

We would like to extend our thanks to all of you who joined us on the day and couldn't think of a nicer bunch of people to accompany on the English Vine Tour's 'maiden wine tour'!

The next wine tour is described as ‘a wine tour with a difference’: ‘Red Hot poker’ Special Day Wine Tour will take place on Monday 23rd Febraury. Participants will begin the day with a tour, tasting and lunch at Plumpton College in East Sussex. The group will spend an afternoon at Plumpton Racecourse and the price includes a welcome drink, access to the premier enclosure and a guided tour of the course. It promises to be a fantastic day and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Phew the Calendars are Ready!

Phew the calendars are done! My head is awash with dates, times and the logistics of organising a years worth of vineyard tours. You can now take a look at the provisional dates for 2009 but I hasten to add that they may change (unless marked as confirmed) as we bring on board more vineyards and special packages.

Fortunately thanks to 'Oz & James Drink to Britain' there's never been a better time to motivate a nation into celebrating our UK booze and drinks industry. If J & O ever get over being grumpy old men (endearingly so I hasten to add) I'm not sure I believe they will ever be able to find a drink that defines a nation like Britain today. How can they when the quality that makes us so interesting and at times eccentric in the UK, is our diversity.

What has become apparent is the Characters out there dedicated to making great British grog and how they go about doing it, which is fascinating. Whilst personally I don't believe you can define a nation by any one thing, there is something totally unifying about 'having a drink'. (Now I hasten to add that this is not about getting plastered or throwing up in a gutter - quite the opposite).

Let's face it we don't really need all these different drinks. We need food as fuel, we need water to keep us hydrated and everything else is superflous. However having a 'drink' is about pleasure and sensation: the variation of taste, texture, colour and the memories they can invoke. I'm talking about those times when you meet a mate in the pub, pop open a bottle of wine with you girlfriends or just sit, relax and quietly contemplate the end of another day. That's what I love about wine, beer drinkers love about beer, apple juice lovers about apple juice....You stop and think, you become aware of the sensations in your body, your palate, even the smells can take you back to that wonderful holiday you had years ago. Or the day you fell in love or perhaps even fell out of love but had a great night with your friends instead.

Personally my favourite drinking memory came after abstaining from alcohol and pasturised cheese for 9 months before my second son was born. Only moments after the birth I revelled in a glass of Cortefigaretto Amarone and a humungous slice of Dolcelatte cheese - in fact I could have bathed it in given half the chance and I can still taste that moment to this day.

I'm thirsty, fancy a drink anyone?

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The calendars are also in the process of being updated and we're working on some really exciting new packages. We'll be adding a newsletter facility soon to keep you up to date with our news and tours and forward on feedback from our customers. If you would like any further information call us 01273 483312 or email to subscribe info@englishvinetours.co.uk

White Clover Wine Tour Places Available

The tension and excitement is building as we approach the first English vineyard tour for 2009 on 24th January! White Clover includes a visit to a Sussex winery for a tour, wine tasting and lunch followed by lunch. Participants will then be whisked away to a Kent vineyard for another tour and wine tasting.

We've discounted the ticket price by £20 to only £79 per person. For an entire day's activity that includes lunch with wine, complimentary tea and coffee and a gift at the end of the day, transport to and from the meeting point in Lewes, that's a bargain we say!

Call us today to book your place 01273 48 33 12.