Make the most of English Wine Week

A marked increase in quality in recent years, combined with a preference for locally-produced products and positive media attention, has led to a surge in the popularity of English wine, with sales reaching almost £100 million at the end of 2015.

 

English Wine Week is taking place from 28 May to 5 June to celebrate and promote English winemaking and terroir. Coinciding with the spring bank holiday, it’s a great opportunity to promote English wine to consumers, who are already showing an interest in this burgeoning category.

 

English Wine Producers is the body responsible for promoting English wine in the UK, and they’ll be offering support to retailers throughout the week. Visit their website to order a free POS pack, which includes a range of marketing materials like posters, table cards, bottleneck tags and even bunting. They also have plenty of ideas on how to attract more customers and capitalise on the week-long event. For example:

– In-store tastings
– Displays
– Discounts
– Food-pairing ideas and events
– PR coverage for your business

 

We are proud to represent two exclusive English producers who demonstrate some of the best of boutique English winemaking.

 

Coates & Seely
With an all-French winemaking team including consultants from Champagne, Coates & Seely combine first-rate French craftsmanship with the best of English terroir. Situated in the chalk-rich Wooldings vineyard in the North Hampshire Downs, the vineyard sprawls over both sides of a well-sheltered, V-shaped valley, which provides ideal growing conditions for superior Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

 

Coates & Seely have been at the forefront of promoting an official designation for quality English sparkling wine, by using and popularising the term ‘Britagne’.

 

Awards:

• Decanter World Wine Awards 2015 – Best UK Sparkling Wine (Blanc de Blancs): Gold Medal
• Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2015 – Best in Class Trophies for Best English Blanc de Blanc and Best Value English Sparkling Wine: Gold Medals

 

Bolney Estate
One of the few wineries in England specialising in red wine, Bolney Estate was established in 1972 with 3 acres of vines and now spans 39 acres. Founders Janet and Rodney Pratt drew inspiration from the delicate, cool-climate reds of New Zealand and have been instrumental in cementing England’s reputation as a quality wine-producing region.

 

Current winemaker, Samantha Linter took over in the 1990s and since then the estate has gone from strength to strength. Grapes are grown with minimal intervention and a strong emphasis on soil health and biodiversity. The estate is a haven for wildlife including deer, buzzards, rabbits, pheasants, green woodpeckers, butterflies, dragon flies and frogs.

 

Awards:

• International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2012 – Trophy Winner for United Kingdom Wine Producer of the Year

 

Contact us to find out more about our exclusive English producers.