Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Quintessentially English Drinks

As I write, England just beat Denmark in the Euros and will face Italy on Sunday in the final! What else can we do today then, than crack some English fizz and celebrate a few quintessentially English tipples? As a nod to Sunday, we will also take the English gin liqueur and give it a little Italian twist.   

The Fizz

Kingscote Sparkling Brut (11.5% abv)

An incredibly aromatic, dry, English fizz, packed full of forest floor flavours. Unusually for most English fizz these days, it’s made in the charmat or ‘tank’ method like Prosecco rather than the more lengthy, traditional method. It is also Bacchus dominant, rather than Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. As a result, it's fresher and more frothy than the Champagne style wines. At under £20 too, it’s an absolute bargain!

Find it here at The English Vine for £16.19 mix six price (£17.99 single)

The Bargain Summer Cup

Austin’s Classic Summer Punch (17.5% abv)

I was recently commissioned by The Sun to do a taste-off of all the supermarket variations of summer punch against the most famous brand, Pimm’s. Aldi’s Austin’s did not only do better than all the other brands as well as being the cheapest, but I also scored it more highly than Pimm’s itself. For your quintessentially English summer punch, just use one part Austin’s to two parts lemonade and throw in some strawberries, cucumber and mint. 

Find it here for £7.49 for 1 litre from Aldi

The Sophisticated, Step-up

Rev Hubert’s Garden Gin (20% ABV)

The Reverend Hubert Bell Lester (1868 -1929) was a charming man who apparently enjoyed a good party. He created his ‘famous’ winter liqueur recipe in 1904 for the joyful Christmas gathering of his army colleagues and congregation and the recipe endured. Today, his great grandson Thomas has revived it, updating the various versions and creating everything by hand. This Garden Gin liqueur is a summery version of one of his recipes, featuring rhubarb, plum, sweet pomegranate and tart cranberries. Have it with soda or tonic. It also makes an excellent English Garden Negroni. (⅓ Rev, ⅓ Cocchi (or other white) Vermouth, ⅓ Campari).

Find it exclusively at Master of Malt for £34.95

Shangri-La London: Staircase to the Stars

 – (n) originating from The Lost Horizon by James Hilton (1993); an imaginary paradise on earth; a faraway haven or hideaway of idyllic beauty and tranquility.

In the heart of London sits a palace in the sky, a true oriental paradise that quite frankly can be found nowhere else in Europe. Proudly situated within Europe’s tallest building, the Shangri-La is a testament to the cutting edge innovations available to us in the 21st century. The truly unique architecture of the building allows you to get the very best out of its central location but one of the most phenomenal traits lies in the very foundation of its corporate philosophy. The Shangri-La has a core focus on hiring the vast majority of its staff from within a 10-mile radius of the building, to promote local employment, quality of life and help give the area a little income boost.

Inhabiting the 34th-52nd floors of Renzo Piano’s iconic building just a short stroll from London’s bustling Borough Market, the Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London offers city seekers a moment of tranquility. Vast, surrounding windows offer spectacular views of the city without the noise and craziness despite being located right in the heart of it all.

Modern and elegant, each of the 202 guestrooms and suites allows visitors to indulge in the luxury life even if only for a night. As a result of The Shard’s distinct and unique design, each room features floor-to-ceiling windows. The vast city lights blink and twinkle like fireflies sending you off into blissful slumber. The room’s atmosphere is not to be ignored. Refined material such as marble and silk are creatively merged with contemporary fashions to complement the urban landscape. Other comforting features include automatic climate control and the patented, body-contouring Shangri-La bed.

The list of offerings and services is endless. But most notably, guests are encouraged to take a culinary journey to one or all of the three offered dining venues within the Shangri-La.

The LÁNG is the hotel’s artisan deli and café found on the ground floor. Enjoy lighter breakfast, lunch, and baked good offers. That typical café feel is amplified with the lofty and relaxed space accentuated with warm wood tones and glass displays brimming all the enticingly sweet goodies.

Sitting snugly on the 35th floor a culinary sensation awaits in the form of TĪNG. The food is mouthwatering with some truly unique Asian inspired fusion dishes, paired with an exceptional wine tasting menu. If you decide to visit for dinner, watch in awe as dusk slowly covers the city, the shadow of the Shard stretching miles into the distance like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Those who are lucky enough can witness full moons laminating through the glass as you overlook one of the most glorious cities in the world in a way. Dry few are fortunate enough to see it in.

The GŎNG sits on the 52nd floor making it the highest bar in London. Incorporating traditional Chinese furnishings and color, the venue has several intimate chambers (Cocktail Bar, Champagne Bar, and the Swimming Pool). With an extraordinary backdrop of the city skyline, the GŎNG is perfect for sunset cocktails or afternoon tea.

Address:
31 St Thomas Street
London, SE1 9QU, United Kingdom

Phone:
(44 20) 7234 8000

Email:
info.slln@shangri-la.com

Shangri-La Paris

No other city in the world does luxury, elegance, and history quite like Paris and when you stay at Paris’ historical Shangri-La Hotel, you will experience luxurious royal treatment in a place that used to be home to well…royalty. With 63 rooms and 37 suites, you’ll never be too far from all of the history, culture, and mesmerizing views of the City of Lights. Home to two Michelin star restaurants, Shangri-La knows how to put on the Ritz. Built inside of the palace of French Imperial Roland Bonaparte, the hotel was originally constructed in 1896.

Shangri-La Hotels acquired the palace in 2006 and took four years to renovate. They took the time to restore all of the palace highlights to their 19th century glory while at the same time incorporating modern updates, making the transition into a luxurious 21st century hotel complete. The renovation was painstakingly put together, going as far as to remove original wood floors slat-by-slat and then putting them back together. Shangri-La Paris is perfect for a romantic getaway, a conference, banquet, or a storybook wedding.

The restaurants L’Abeille, Shang Palace, and La Bauhinia offer French, Chinese, and a blend of French and South-East Asian cuisines respectively and they are prepared to fulfill any appetite. Sitting across the Seine in front of the Eiffel Tower, nestled near the Champs-Elysees, avenue Montaigne, and world renowned museums, Shangri-La Paris is the ideal place to stay for locals and tourists alike.

If you are lucky enough to stay in the La Suite Gustave Eiffel, sitting on the sixth floor, be sure to take plenty of selfies on the balcony. Your friends will be green with envy when they see your views of the Eiffel Tower. Or if rooftop terraces are more your style, stay on the fifth floor in La Suite Chaillot, boasting 1650 square feet of amazing views and decadent lounge areas for up to 6 guests. Another suite, La Suite Shangri-La, was built with the breathtaking views in mind. Constructed with a 46-foot-long panoramic window, this suite has photo-ops galore, looking over Napoleon’s Tomb, Notre Dame, the Pantheon, and the Eiffel Tower.

The crème de la crème is without a doubt L’Appartement Prince Bonaparte, which is the largest suite in the hotel and used to be the private apartment of Prince Roland Bonaparte. In this suite, the prime example of mixing 19th and 21st century style is in the bathroom, with marble bathrooms giving way to heated floors. The suite can also connect to two other rooms for a total of 3,770 square feet and three total bedrooms. But if your luck fails and you can’t stay in one of these premiere rooms, not a problem, as 40 percent of the rooms and 60 percent of the suites in the hotel look out directly over Paris’ most well-known monument. That’s right, almost every room offers a stunning and unique view of la tour Eiffel. No matter where you stay in Shangri-La Paris, pack a crown, and be prepared to live like royalty.

Address: 10, avenue d'Iéna, Paris, 75116, France
Telephone: (+33 ) 1 5367 1998
Website

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Top wines from Co-op

This week on the Thursday club, it’s the last in our supermarket series and this time, it’s the turn of the Co-op! I’ve chosen an impressive little white that you may not have heard of before, a simple and delicious pink Rioja and I also spotted a real bargain red that tastes a lot more expensive than it is…

Co-op Irresistible Marsanne 2019

Made by one of the star winemakers of the Languedoc; Jean-Claude Mas from Les Domaines Paul Mas, this is a well-made, perky white that is simply a great expression of the Marsanne grape. Marsanne is normally associated with Rhone Valley and often blended with Roussanne as it can often be a bit much on its own, but this one is really attractive. Think of ripe peach, pear and subtle, tropical fruit flavours with a lovely, creamy texture and good weight. It’s a bit different. If you like Viognier, you will like this. 

Find it for £8 here

Cune Rosado 2020

Cune is a name to know in Rioja for its fruit-forward, modern styles of wine that are easy to love. Despite its youth, the 2020 pink is drinking perfectly now, with a pretty scent of ripe cherry and delicious strawberry notes on the palate. It’s elegant, juicy and so easy to drink. Amazing value too, knocking many Provencal rosés off the shelf. 

Find it for £8.50 here

Co-op Tinto, Vina Gala NV

This was the surprise of the tasting to me. A non-vintage wine that clearly has some age on it - it must be a small parcel they have picked up. Made with 100% Tempranillo (the same grape that makes Rioja), this is super savoury with notes of grilled meat, leather and a flash of stewed strawberry and woody spice. Perhaps not one for everyone, but with a bit of air and either a slab of meat or some cheese, this properly belies it’s ridiculously low price. 

Find it at Co-op for £5.85 soon to be online

Britz Spritz

A sparkling wine cocktail you say? Don’t mind if we do, thanks! As featured in Episode 49 of The Bring a Bottle Podcast this uniquely British take on a Spritz is wonderfully refreshing and makes for perfect summer sipping!

Ingredients

50ml Aperitif, such as Apérol or Cocchi Vermouth
100ml of British /English Sparkling Wine
10ml of Elderflower cordial
Garnish - slice of orange

Method

Pour all the ingredients in a wine glass over plenty of ice, stir and garnish with a slice of orange.

Fancy a whisky based cocktail? Then why not try a Crabbie’s Colada or if it’s a gin based cocktail you’d prefer the Clover Club cocktail is always a winner.

How to Invest in Whisky

Written by Colin Hampden-White

The king is just about hanging onto the crown, but it is closer than it has been for many months. Macallan has risen a little and Springbank remains strong. As predicted, Ardbeg has risen up a little and may well rise further but these percentages tell only half the story. The big change over the last few months is the value of the bottles being traded. In the past the big-ticket items, commanding high retail prices were the ones to invest in, but it seems they have had their day and the retail prices, even for very rare whiskies are no longer lower than the secondary market prices. My advice, for now, would be to stay clear of bottles over 5K and find the sweet spot which seems to be around £250 to £1500. I don’t think it matters much about the ranking at this level, and one is best to think long term. As with all investment portfolios, diversify. If you can collect a number of bottles in the top 10 from different distilleries within the sweet spot of £250 to £1500, and hang onto them for at least five years, you shouldn’t do badly.

The Dalmore 2%
Bowmore 3%
Macallan 1%
Springbank 1%
Clynelish 5%
Karuizawa 1.5%
Rosebank Official Bottlings 2%
Yamazaki 0.5%
Ardbeg 2%
Bunnahabhain

Bottles to Watch

As a pointer this month I am going to suggest Springbank as one to concentrate on. Some of these limited releases have different ABVs depending on release and are not listed here.

Springbank 16 year old Local Barley

The local barley release sells out in seconds, so if you see one you’re very lucky! Always sought after and very collectable. Also, absolutely delicious!

Springbank 9 year old Gaja cask

This is a bit of a sleeper for me. It’s not expensive, but it will be limited and lovely. I reckon this will rise quickly despite its young age.

Springbank 19 year old Sherry Cask

19 years old is unusual for Springbank, which singles this expression out. Being in sherry will also help its appeal, and will be looked for by collectors. At this price, for Springbank it’s a great deal.

Springbank 21 years old 1990’s

This is a rare find, and already has some age to it. Only one bottle here shows how rare these things are at retail. Bottled I the 1990’s, the distillate will be 1970’s and a wonderful look back in time.

Find here

Springbank 15 years old 1990’s

Another 1990’s bottling giving a view into the late 1970’s or early 1980’s. Again, a rare bottle and one worth hanging onto.

Find here

As with March, April and May’s Whisky Investment Indexes, any bottles mentioned are just suggestions, I don’t pretend to have a crystal ball, but it will point you in the right direction to do your own research and start you on your journey in whisky investment.

Your Wine Travel Guide to Kent

Kent is a county in southeast England known colloquially as the Garden of England thanks to its historical importance for growing cereal crops, hops and fruit. With the increase in vineyard plantings however, things are changing quickly and Kent has already become one of the leading areas for top-quality wines in the UK. Below, we discuss why this is, give you the big names to look out for and suggest what else you can do while you’re there...

Despite evidence dating back to Roman times showing that winemaking practices have been common in England for over 2000 years, the buzz surrounding the exciting rise of English wine is actually pretty recent. The big success story here is sparkling wine made in the traditional method (now officially known over here as the ‘classic method’), with ‘new’ grape varieties i.e. Chardonnay. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier; the grape varieties famous for making the great sparkling wines of Champagne. Before this practice took off, Kent and the rest of England were working more with still wines made with the aromatic, Germanic varieties that did better in the cold, such as Madeleine Angevine, Rondo and Bacchus. 

Why is Kent wine doing so well?

So why the new grapes and the success with wine in Kent particularly? Fruit growing temperatures and conditions in Kent have always been excellent and the soils, particularly those under the North Downs in the north of the county, share the same chalk ridges as the famous region of Champagne in France. This discovery led to trialing out the Champagne grapes mentioned above and to great success. Climate change has also meant that in the right conditions, grapes are able to ripen just that little bit more than they used to, which makes all the difference for wine production. Add to this the modern techniques by winemakers who have travelled the world and improved disease control and you have a recipe for success - so much so that we are even seeing famous Champagne houses snapping up land, such as Domaine Evremond, owned by the Taittinger family, who have planted vines down in Faversham. 

There are now over fifty wineries in Kent alone and the area is quickly becoming a real destination for fine wine production and gastro tourism, the latter helped by the picture perfect villages, cottages, landscapes and oasthouses of the county. If you’ve seen the film ‘The Holiday’, you’ll know exactly what we mean. A group of these wineries have also got together to support each other and boost the reputation of Kent wine under the title ‘Wine Garden of England’. These are Biddenden, Gusbourne, Balfour at Hush Heath Estate, Chapel Down, Domaine Evremond, Simpsons and Squerryes. 

Beer and Spirits

Drinks lovers will also note that Kent also has a strong association with growing hops for beer and we can still see some of these oast houses dotted around the county, though they are more often used as posh housing nowadays. Distilleries are also popping up, with some offering some fantastic experience for visitors, such as Copper Rivet over in Chatham that offers distillery tours and tastings and also has a new cocktail bar and fine dining restaurant on site. 

Notable wineries of Kent

Of the fifty or so wineries dotted around the county, there are several that stand out. While these names will change over time with new ones being added regularly, these are the need-to-know producers currently making a splash and well worth a visit:

• Gusbourne

• Balfour at Hush Heath

• Simpsons

• Biddenden

• Woodchurch

• Herbert Hall

• Squerryes

• Chapel Down

• Mereworth

• Look out for Domaine Evremond too; the Taittinger family project, recently planted.

Gusbourne

Location: Appledore, Kent

Gusbourne and its head winemaker Charlie Holland have been turning heads all over the vinous world as their vintage sparkling wines gather inordinate amounts of awards. Even their first releases in 2006 (Gusbourne Brut Reserve and Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs), which were released in 2010, commanded attention immediately. Since then, the English wine world has watched in awe as the team crafts the vintages every year, adding new cuvées and styles to their repertoire. The winery now produces several white and rosé sparkling wines as well as an impressive range of still wines, each with their own personality. This is a real, fine wine producer of Kent.

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours
Guided and self guided tours with wine tastings are available from £25 pp.

Food

While there is no restaurant or café at Gusbourne per se, picnics are available to buy and consume overlooking the stunning Boot Hill vineyard at the top of the estate. You can however, also pre book an extended tour and tasting which includes a 3 course lunch for £95pp or for something less formal, try the discovery tour, which involves a tasting and a casual lunch for £75 pp. Locals say to try the Ferry Inn in Oxney or The Woolpack Inn in Warehorne for great pub grub if the tasting lunches don’t work for you. Also, make sure you pay a visit to Miss Mollett's High Class Tea Rooms in Appledore if you’re staying there. 

Accommodation

None on site but there are several very pretty Air BnBs down the road in Appledore, about 30 mins walk away through the vines.

Kiddie friendly: No. 
Dog friendly: Yes outside, or possibly inside if clean and very well behaved. 

Address: Kenardington Rd, Appledore, Ashford TN26 2BE
Tel: +44 (0)1233 758666
Website

Balfour at Hush Heath Estate 

Location: Near Stapleford, Kent

The 16th century Hush Heath manor is the home to Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn who acquired the 400 acre estate that surrounds it in 2001 after it came up unexpectedly in an auction. The couple had the foresight to plant grape vines alongside some of the apple trees and now, twenty years later, they are producing award-winning sparkling and still wines alongside their beers and high class ciders that are made just like their fizz. With their new terrace called ‘The View’ and its sweeping views across the estate, it’s a lovely spot for a tasting with a sharing platter. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

At Hush Heath, you can do simple guided and self-guided walks around the estate culminating in a tasting or you can upgrade the offering to include sharing platters at The View. They offer several types of other experiences, including self-tutored tastings, masterclasses, wine and dine experiences and corporate and private events where they pick you up from the station!

Food

There’s no restaurant or café at Hush Heath as such, but sharing platters of cold cuts, cheeses and other local products are available on the day.  

Accommodation

The Balfour family own several gastro pubs with rooms in the area (and elsewhere), the closest of which is the Goudhurst Inn five minutes drive away. They also own the Tickled Trout in Farleigh, the Woolpack on Tenterden high street, the Ship Inn in Rye and The Windmill in Hollingbourne, all a bit further away. 

Kiddie Friendly: Yes on the terrace and in The View. Under 10’s are not permitted on the winery tour.

Address: Hush Heath Estate, Five Oak Ln, Staplehurst, Tonbridge TN12 0HT
Tel: +44 (0)1622 832794
Website

Simpsons English Wine Estate

Location: Canterbury

Run by veteran winemaking couple Charles and Ruth Simpson, this estate is tucked away on the chalky slopes of the North Downs, sheltered from the weather by stunning English woodland. A relative newcomer on the English winemaking scene, Simpson’s first wine releases of traditional method sparkling wines in their sleek, dark packaging impressed from the off and they’ve gone on to produce some serious still wines too from the same Champagne grapes, including one that’s, unusually, made from 100% Pinot Meunier. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

Simpsons offer weekday and weekend tours and tastings as well as sought-after, Friday Sunset Sessions with food platter.

Food

No restaurant or café, but platters are available on the Friday sunset sessions. 

Address: The Barns, Church Lane, Barham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6PB
Tel: +44 (0) 1227 832200
Website

Biddenden Vineyards

Location: Biddenden

Biddenden is Kent’s original vineyard, dating back to 1969 when the first vines were planted on the Barnes family’s orchard farm. Unlike many of the other new wineries in Kent, Biddenden doesn’t just focus on the three Champagne grapes for its wine but celebrates eleven different grape varieties, including what we could now call the ‘heritage’ English grapes such as Bacchus, Ortega and Huxelrebe. A true location for quintessentially Kentish produce, Biddenden also produces cider, juices and sells a range of local produce. If you want to know Kentish wine, you should start here. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

Self guided tours and wine tastings are available 7 days a week and group bookings for up to six people are available Weds-Sat. 

Shop

As well as wine, cider, beer and gin, Biddenden has a shop that stocks a wide range of local and regional products and snacks, such as cheese, meats and condiments from independent and artisan producers.

Address: Biddenden Vineyards, Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden, Kent. TN27 8DF.
Tel: +44 (0)1580 291726
Website

Woodchurch

Location: Woodchurch

Woodchurch is a relatively new, family-owned winery located on the edge of the picturesque village of Woodchurch in Kent, overlooking the ancient Romney marsh down to the English channel. Established in 2009, their vision is to create some of the world’s finest sparkling wines with a hand-made approach in their state-of-the-art winery and minimal intervention.

On Site Experiences

The cellar door shop and new terrace bar are now open again and they serve wines by the glass with some free tastings. There’s no need to book ahead for this. 

Tastings & Tours

Guided tours with four wines are available for £20 per person, lasting about an hour and a half.

Food

Cheese and Charcuterie boards are available too, 11am - 4pm but it’s wise to pre-order. 

Address: Susan's Hill, Woodchurch, Ashford TN26 3RE
Tel: 01233 860276
Website

Herbert Hall

Location: Marden Tonbridge

Herbert Hall is the name of a colourful character who was also a tenant farmer who arrived in the village of Marden at the end of the 19th century and worked on the ten-acre site to the west of the village. On the estate, he grew hops, apples, pears and plums and his farm has remained in the Hall family for three generations. It was in 2007 however that his great grandson, the now winemaker Nicholas Hall, chose Herbert’s original site to plant a vineyard with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Today, with fellow winemaker Kirsty Smith, he now produces vintage, English Sparkling Wines with a focus on organic viticulture and meticulous fruit selection.

On Site Experiences

Tastings, Tours & Food

The Herbert Hall bar is open on Saturdays 12pm-8pm and Sundays 12-6pm during the summer, but is currently weather dependent. The bar also serves beers, cider and soft drinks, as well as still wines, their own sparkling wines, and charcuterie and cheeses.

Address: Poultry Farm, Plain Rd, Marden, Tonbridge TN12 9LS
Website

Squerryes

Location: Westerham, Kent

The Warde family motto, which can be seen above the door at Squerryes Court, reads ’Licet Esse Beatis’, which means: ‘it’s permitted to be joyful’ and this is a place that embodies that perfectly. Located just outside Westerham at the foot of the North Downs, the family have lived here for eight generations over 300 years, with Sir Patience Warde one of the first generation, trading wool from the Estate with the French for red wine. Fast forward centuries later and the family turned down offers from a Champagne house to buy some of their land. It was the right decision as now, Squerryes is making a solid name for its vintage, sparkling wines in their own right.

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

Squerryes offer tours that culminate in tastings that include their signature Brut release, the Rosé and Blanc de Blancs. Tours run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays every weekend through to October.

Food

Squerryes is a great choice for when you want to make a day of it, with a tour, then a tasting and a proper lunch or dinner in The Terrace restaurant or The Bottle Store restaurant. There is Al Fresco dining at The Terrace between April and September and you can look forward to small, seasonal dishes and sharing plates with select cuts of prime meat and seafood, created by their estate chef, Alexander Baillieu. 

Private Hire & Weddings

You have found your perfect location for a party or a wedding. Squerryes Court has featured in many a period drama and could be the perfect backdrop to your big day. The winery space is also available to hire. 

Address: Squerryes, Beggars Lane, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1QP
Tel: 01959 562345
Website

Chapel Down

Location: Tenterden, Kent

Chapel Down might well be the name in English wine that you are most familiar with as they were one of the first to go big and get ‘out there’ in mainstream shops and restaurants. Located just outside Tenterden and pretty close to Gusbourne and Woodchurch, this is a great location to start an English wine tour, especially as there are some great pubs with rooms nearby. Chapel Down themselves also offer a range of experiences, from guided tours, wine tastings and full-on masterclasses, to lunch at their restaurant ‘The Swan’. There are also accommodation packages you could look at with their partner hotels.

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

You can do guided and self guided tours around their vineyards and herb garden. There are various options from simple tours and tastings to full, deluxe tour packages. Cheese and wine tastings are also available.

Food

Chapel Down boasts a two AA Rosette and Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants specialising in modern British cuisine and locally sourced seasonable produce.

Lease the vines!

Chapel Down also has a vine lease programme where you can buy or gift someone their very own Bacchus vines and create personalised wines. There are also events for the leaseholders to attend and you are able to visit your vines at any time to see how they are coming on. 

Address: Chapel Down Winery, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7NG
Tel: 01580 763033
Website

Mereworth Wines

Location: Mereworth, Kent.

Mereworth is a pretty ancient Kentish site that even gets a mention in the Domesday book! The area, like much of Kent has a long history of growing fruit and hops and now, Mereworth has its own winery, swapping hops for grapes. It’s a new winery on the scene but is already making a splash with its first vintage of 2018 sparkling wines winning prestigious awards already. It’s rapidly becoming a serious destination for wine lovers thanks to its calendar of events such as their Indian wine supper and their Champagne Vs England sparkling wine tasting. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings, Tours & Food

Mereworth Wines runs tours and tastings, with an option of masterclasses and wine-and-cheese pairings too. Check their website for their events too.

Address: Brewers Hall, Tonbridge Rd, Mereworth, Maidstone, ME18 5JD. 
Tel: 01622 817795
Website

Places to stay in Kent for your wine tour

The Woolpack Inn, Warehorne.

Tickled Trout in West Fairleigh

Woolpack, Tenterden high street.

The Ship Inn, Rye.

The Windmill, Hollingbourne.

The Oxney Barns, Oxney.

Shepherd’s Huts, Oxney.

Want to know more about English wine? Here are some need-to-know producers to seek out. Or you could try this article for the best UK vineyard hotels. Or this one for the best places to drink English wine in the UK!

The Best Places in the UK to Drink English Wine

Happy English Wine Week! We’re raising a glass to the finest homegrown pours by taking a tasting tour. Here are some of the best places to try wines made in the UK, this week, next week and beyond…  

The Wine Bar

Grays & Feather

The epic setting is reason enough to visit: in the heart of Covent Garden, Grays & Feather is sprawled across two storeys in Charles Dickens’s former 1860s publishing house. But the other draw of a visit to this wine bar? A succinct but superb by-the-glass vino list that lets lesser-known English producers shine. Order up a pour of quince-noted Forgotten Monarchy Cuvée, a fizz from West Sussex, or biscuity Herbert Hall Brut from Kent to start. Then, move on to Stopham Pinot Gris, all aromatic peach and spice, followed by juicy, cherried Sharpham Pinot Noir.

Location: Covent Garden, London
Website

The Restaurant

The Loch and the Tyne

What pairs perfectly with English wine? Fine British produce, especially when it’s been reared sustainably from local vegetable gardens and orchards. That’s what you’ll get at chef Adam Handling’s Windsor outpost, The Loch and the Tyne – the menu showcases seasonal asparagus, Jersey Royal potatoes and Ogleshield cheese, all washed down with a clutch of hand-picked English wines by the glass or bottle. Historic Windsor feels an apt setting for such a Great British feast, but if you can’t make it there Adam also has restaurants pouring English vino in London and Cornwall.

Location: Windsor
Website

The Online Tasting

The English Vine

You don’t even need to leave the house to celebrate English Wine Week. The English Vine runs Zoom wine tastings where, from £50pp, you can sample an array of British-made wines over an hour-long, expert-led session with your nearest and dearest. Once you’ve given everything an initial try – and learned about how it’s made – you can order by the mixed case, too (for example, The Ultimate British Wine Case is stuffed with Nyetimber sparkling and Chapel Down rosé, among other treats).

Location: Your living room!
Website

The Wine Shop

Hawkins Bros

Hawkins Bros knows its English wines inside-out – in fact, it stocks such an extensive range, if it weren’t for the expert-led recommendations that come with every shopping experience, you might have trouble choosing one. Pop into branches in the Surrey Hills and West Sussex for a tasting of everything from bubbly Bacchus-based sparklings to elegant Pinot Noirs, all vetted by the owners’ top palates for quality. Keep eyes peeled for winemaker-led events, too!

Location: Surrey Hills and West Sussex
Website

The Winery

Renegade London

If we’re being technical, much of what this urban winery makes is ‘British wine’ rather than ‘English’ – because they import some grapes from the EU. But that’s not a reason to discount it. Set in the heart of London’s Bethnal Green, Renegade is focused on making interesting, exciting wines from the best-quality grapes it can find, then putting its distinct stamp on them – to delicious effect. If you’re determined to get a taste of local this week, though, they can certainly oblige. Order up a quirky hopped English sparkling wine, a quaffable Bacchus Pet Nat, or an on-trend Orange Bacchus Wine, available for free UK-wide delivery.

Location: Bethnal Green, London
Website

The Pub

The White Horse

It’s not just swanky restaurants who serve up a good glass of English fizz – fine UK-made tipples are increasingly available in pubs, too. At this seaside stalwart in Brancaster, Norfolk, you can down three different varieties of award-winning Nyetimber fizz – the Classic Cuvee NV, Rose NV, or Blanc de Blancs – alongside best-ever oysters from the waterways beyond. And, as if that wasn’t already the ultimate in English food and wine pairings, afterwards you can sip a glass of Cobble Hill Bacchus, made from a nearby family-owned winery, while you devour a North Atlantic lobster drenched in garlicky butter.

Location: Norfolk
Website

The Hotel

The Idle Rocks

Boutique pad The Idle Rocks, tucked in the pretty Cornish coastal town of St Mawes, has a heavy English wine list for such a small stay – you can sip your way through Cornish sparkling rosés from Camel Valley, or the aromatic ‘Harlyn’ white blend from Trevibban Mill, or even their own-label ‘Lazy Lady’, all pretty floral notes (and made in conjunction with the same producer). Pull up a seat on the restaurant terrace, with its comfy chairs overlooking the picturesque harbour, and reflect over the Cornish scene as you work your way through a bottle. It doesn’t get more English than this… 

Location: Cornwall
Website

Wondering where you can get your hands on a bottle of some delicious English wine? Then look no further than Helena’s Top 10 English Wines You Need To Try and if you fancy fully immersing yourself in a British wine experience then check out these Best UK vineyard hotel stays!