England's Dreaming! New wave wines from England...
Once upon a time, Australian wine was considered a joke, nicknamed ‘Chateau Chunder from Down Under’. Until recent times the same could be said for English wine, an oxymoron if there ever was one. But times they are very much changing…
In 2015, a wine from Norfolk, a county perhaps noted more for growing carrots and potatoes than grapes, won the award for ‘best single-varietal white wine in the world’ in the prestigious Decanter magazine, and English Sparkling wines won a record number of awards in global wine competitions last year.
So, what’s going on? A combination of warmer growing conditions, better winemaking know-how and the passionate, pioneering zeal of the people involved have transformed the perception of English wine from mediocre at best to up there with the world’s best. After years in the shadows, England’s winemakers are now dreaming of a bright and better future. And we can’t wait!
Join me at 7pm on Wednesday 2 June for the essential lowdown on the current English wine scene. We’ll taste eight of the best England has to offer, from delicate, hedgerow-scented whites to perfect summer rosés and serious world class reds.
OK, it’s been a while since England led the world in wine (circa 1066) but could it, just could it be coming home? Book now to secure your place!