White Clover English Vineyard Experience

March 28th, a lovely day out in the heart of Sussex and Kent. A nice group had gathered for this superb tour, at Pelham House in Lewes for their pre-vineyard experience croissant and coffee. Amongst the group was Simon Majumdar of Dos Hermanos, the world's biggest food blog, we were honored.

Carr Taylor Vineyards are set in rural East Sussex just past the historic town of Battle, 1066 and all that. Established by David and Linda Carr Taylor in the late 60's they were the first to win Gold in France, beating the French at their own game. Since then they have gone from strength to strength and continue to produce great Sparkling wine, still white wine and a range of superb fruit wines.

Despite the threat of rain and occassional drop we ventured into the vineyard to get a close look at the vines. Although not much to see as yet, some early buds are showing after the winter prune, it is these small harmless looking buds that lay the foundations of this year's crop of grapes and resultant wines. After the vineyard and winery tour we ventured upstairs into the tasting room where we sampled no less than 6 wines including some great fruit wines. The tasting was fun, informative and tasty!

From East Sussex we ventured into Kent, just past the lovely town of Tenderden onto Biddenden Vineyards. Again another family set up established in the late 60's who actually lay claim to producing some the best ciders in the UK. We were only just into the vineyards when the heavens opened and like frightened rabbits we scampered back to the shelter and sanctuary of the tasting rooms. The wines are quaffable and of a good standard although it has to be said that where Biddenden do excell is with their ciders, which were sampled in full!

We ventured home, back to Lewes in the afternoon, many fell asleep in a pleasant wine filled slumber. Decanted and laiden with their complimentary bottle of wine as well as vineyard purchases all went on their merry way home.

Vineyard Escapades Forth Coming - Easter Weekend, two half day experiences which include an afternoon at Carr Taylor, Saturday 11th April and Easter Sunday at Plumpton Race Course for a superb trip to the gee-gees. In May we are promoting 3 unique experiences in promotion of English Wine Week and these can be viewed online at www.englishvinetours.co.uk

Oz & James Drink to Britain and Visit Sussex Vineyard

In case you missed it, view the final episode of Oz & James Drink to Britain BBC iPlayer until 3rd March

Briefly Oz & James visit the chalky soil of Sussex which boasts characteristics similar to that of Champagne. Heading off to Breaky Bottom vineyard to meet one of the pioneers of English sparkling wine, Peter Hall, Oz sets James the challenge of picking out the English sparkling wine in a blind tasting.

They also pay a visit a winemaker Dermot Sugrue (former winemaker at Nyetimber), an exciting talent in the English wine industry. Dermot has established a new winery on the Wiston Estate, on the South Downs of West Sussex using equipment imported from France, including a vintage Champagne press. We're eagerly awaiting his first production!

Learn About The English Wine Industry Today

There is a quiet revolution evolving across England’s vineyards. No longer the subject of derision, English wines, particularly English sparkling wines are standing up to and even beating hands down their rivals in Champagne at blind tastings across Europe.

The UK is one of the largest export markets for Champagne but this may be set to change with English sparkling wines winning numerous awards. Tim Atkin, chairman of the International Wine Challenge awards, told The Independent in 2007 "English wine is finally showing that it should no longer be regarded as a cottage industry but as an industry which can produce world-class wines."

A warmer climate, especially across the southern counties, years of hard work and dogged enthusiasm, winemakers are reaping the fruits of their labour. Today, there are around 400 English vineyards across Kent, Hampshire, Essex and Sussex. Wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd in their ‘Future of Wine’ Report in 2008 believe the amount of English farmland devoted to wine production may rival that of France by 2058.

No longer confined to the recesses of quirky independent wine merchants, the supermarkets are now offering a good selection of English wines including award winners from Estate’s such as Breaky Bottom. Sussex (Gold Medal Winner in the South East Vineyards 2008) and Chapel Down Winery, Kent (IWSC silver medal 2008).

In addition there is now the opportunity to visit many of the vineyards across the South-East, walk through the vines, learn about the inner workings of a winery and taste the wines in production. English Vine Tours is a unique company providing these wine tour experiences across Sussex and Kent.

English Vine Tours have a desire to bring the beauty of the English vineyards and the delights of English wine to a wider audience. Their aim is to promote the English wine industry, celebrate English producers and allow everyone to truly experience the production and effort that it takes to produce a bottle of English wine.

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?

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.

Recommended English Wines and Tasting Notes

Whilst promoting English wine and English vineyards it's become apparent that many people are unaware that English wine is a force to be reckoned with and seen perhaps as more of a gimmick. In fact we've even had people saying that they didn't even know that England could be considered a wine producing country.

So what's the fuss about English wines then? Thanks to the onset of a warmer climate, more experimental winemakers and brave open minded wine retailers, English wines should be a definite on any wine lovers 'must taste' list.

Here's a few wines we've tried to get you started. Many of these wines can be tasted on a number of our wine tours packages. For inquiries on how to buy the following English wines, contact The Sussex Wine Company 01273 477 205.

Carr Taylor Vineyards, East Sussex
Alexis Dry White - £9.95
A lovely fresh and clean refreshing dry white from East Sussex.

Bookers Vineyards, Sussex
Dark Harvest Red – Bronze Medal Winner - £9.95
Still fresh with some noticeable acidity. A medium bodied dry red wine, lots of red fruit flavours and hints of tannin in the background. Lovely red fruit aromas with hints of leather. Complimentary oak notes. Very elegant. Purple/Ruby in colour. A very easy drinking wine. Made from a blend of Dornfelder and Rondo grapes.
Autumn Spice White - Bronze Medal Winner - £9.95
Lovely aroma with hints of lychee and floral notes. In the mouth there is a lovely balance between crisp acidity and rich floral, grapefruit and spice character. The wine is light to medium bodied. Made from a blend of Muller Thurgau, Reichenstiener, Schönburger and Wurzer grapes.

Sedlescombe Organic Vineyards, East Sussex
Dry White - £11.95
Roy Cook's ancient Gothic recipe has created a Reisling-style English Wine. A lively young wine with a zesty grass and elderflower aroma, hints of honey and grapes and a clean crisp finish.
Regent Red - £11.95
A bold, medium-bodied red matured in barrique oak barrels for 5 months. Robust colour, smokey, fruity bouquet, loaded with blackberry and raspberry fruit flavours, ample tannins and oaky complexity.

Nutbourne Vineyards, Sussex
Sussex Reserve - £12.95
Made from a blend of Nutbourne grapes, this is a dry, fragrant wine with delicate fruit - perfect as an apertif or with lighter meals.

Biddenden Vineyards, Kent
Gribble Bridge Ortega Dry White - £9.95
Crisp, medium dry wine produced from the Ortega Grape. To enjoy this wines fresh fruity character and off dry style, it is best served slightly chilled as an aperitif or with pasta, poultry, seafood and salad.

Follow The Path From Grape to Glass - English Vineyard Tours NOW BOOKING!

It's official, we've launched and we're taking bookings. After a fantastic evening at The Sussex Wine Company portfolio tasting at the Needlemakers in Lewes, we took this opportunity to tell this fine bunch about the English Vine Tours exclusive service.

We tasted some fab English wine too including those from Plumpton College Estate (tasting notes to follow), Breaky Bottom and Carr Taylor wines. We were lucky enough to have David and Linda Carr Taylor join us for the evening too. We really appreciate their encouragement and support on the English Vine Tours project. Olly Smith also joined us and again would like to extend our thanks to him for coming and supporting this super event.

So now we're looking to January 2009 to get the ball rolling and get out amongst the vines. Celebrate the New Year: never mind the dark cold days because you'll never cease to inspired by just being in the vineyard.

For January we have a couple of great tours including Heath Speedwell Half Day Wine Tour to Carr Taylor Vineyard in Sussex. For only £49 you will all the usual benefits of transportation to and from the vineyard, a tour, tasting, lunch and complimentary bottle of wine.

Also we've running a super offer on the White Clover One Day Wine Tour for only £79 (reduced by £20! per ticket). Visit Carr Tayor vineyards and then go onto Biddenden vineyards in Kent.

All information can be found at www.englishvinetours.co.uk or call us 0273 48 33 12

Make Your Own English Wine

'Grapes of Good Hope', is an article that appeared in this weeks Sunday Times (9th November) reporting the boom in English winemaking. What's great is that maybe, just maybe, with a warmer climate and a little bit of investment we may well be producing the winemaking superstars of the future and become a recognised and respected wine producing country across the world.

English sparkling wines have received the most rescent positive PR and just remember, it was an Englishman, Christopher Merret who introduced the first receipe for sparkling wine to the Royal Society in 1662 - 30 years before Dom Perignon.

Peter Hall of Breaky Bottom, Lewes talked about the boom in English winemaking in the ST article: “In the past three years, something extraordinary has happened...People with money from the City are getting into it – it is strictly sparkling wine that has caused this lift off." If there is anyone left in the City with money to invest, "it will be an important addition to agriculture."

To view the whole Sunday Times article click here.

English Wine Tasting 2009

A date for your diary:
English Wines & English Sparkling Wines. A selection of Sussex wines with English Cheeses, 16 Market Street, Lewes on 12th February, 7-8.30pm. Featuring Plumpton College Vineyard wines. £25.00

Tickets can be purchased from The Sussex Wine Company.

Word on the UK Grapevine - News from the Vineyards

Pessimists have been heard saying that the English 2008 vintage could have been an utter disaster due to a wet summer and lack of sunshine. However, news from the vineyards is, with a little help from a good October, the quantity of grapes was lower than expected but the quality was good.

Unfortunately the South-West was adversely affected by the wet summer, however the rest of the country is looking positive. Sugar levels are good and acids are higher thanks to a warm autumn. Official harvest data will be available in the spring of 2009.

We should remember that English vineyards and wine-makers are a sturdy lot. In true British spirit just when you think that things couldn't get worse and the odds are against us, we end up producing some of our best stuff. It has been said that when the grapes are facing tough times that's when they actually build their quality.

Harvesting is pretty much over now for English wine-makers so the next few months will be interesting to see how the English 2008 vintage goes. In the meantime good years to check out for English wine are 1999, 2003 and 2005.

Launching English Wine Tours

The English Wine Industry has been somewhat overlooked in the not too distant past. Yet English wine from vineyards such as Bookers, on the Bolney Wine Estate and particularly sparkling wine from artisan winemaker Peter Hall at Breaky Bottom has received some great PR lately. Not only are the English vineyards set within some of England finest countryside they are run enthusiastically and passionately by foolhardy winemakers who have made it their life's work to make these wines work.

We thought it was about time to bring attention to this wonderful industry and boy, are we excited!
At English Vine Tours we're giving the public the opportunity to visit some of England's finest vineyards, taste the delights of English wine and enjoy the beauty of the English countryside. Half day, 1 day, 2 day wine tours are available all accompanied by a wine expert from English Vine Tours and driven in a private minibus. We're also offering special day wine tours which will include the tour of a vineyard, wine tasting and lunch before being taken to the horse races for a flutter or perhaps even the opera.

This venture is clearly about promoting the English wine industry but also local produce, local business and our homegrown talent. It's about celebrating England and supporting our local economy when the global one has let us down so badly!

Welcome to English Vine Tours