Glass of Bubbly
Simon Robinson is New Chairman of English Wine Producers
English Wine Producers, an organisation dedicated to promoting English and Welsh wine, has appointed a new chairman after a major overhaul. Simon Robinson from Hattingley Valley has taken up the helm, joined by other English wine experts including Tamara Roberts from Ridgeview, Frazer Thompson from Chapel Down and Anne Linder from Direct Wines. Robinson, along…
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Prosecco DOC Allocates an Extra 3,000 Hectares
Fears of Prosecco shortage are to be even further debunked after the DOC Consortium confirmed there will be a 3,000 hectare increase in vineyards allocated to Prosecco. 2015 was a record harvest which produced surplus Prosecco, meaning plenty of bottles to meet the high demand, particularly from the UK market where Prosecco is the best-selling sparkling wine.…
Read MoreChampagne Academy Celebrates 60 Years
The Champagne Academy celebrated its 60th anniversary at a dinner at The Lanesborough Hotel in London and launched the 2016 programme of its annual Champagne Academy Course trip to Champagne in June. As in all previous years, the 2016 trip will provide a unique and in-depth Champagne education experience, including lectures by the Principals and winemakers of Grande Marque Champagne…
Read More2015 Production Figures for UK Wine Industry Announced
The latest production figures from England and Wales have just been announced by the Wine Standards Branch (Food Standards Agency). The Wine Standards Branch (WSB) is the body currently responsible for compiling the production declarations and holding the vineyards register for the UK wine industry, reporting harvest and vineyard figures to DEFRA. The 2015 harvest…
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Record Harvest & Growth for Prosecco DOC
The Consortium for the protection of Prosecco DOC has released new, official figures showing both a record 2015 harvest and year-on-year growth in levels of production since DOC status was granted in 2009. Despite claims of difficult growing conditions 4.5 million quintals of suitable grapes were harvested in 2015, which will make an estimated 3.4 million…
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Champagne Taittinger Toast Winners at BAFTAs
The great and the good of UK Television gathered at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night as the winners of the House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards in 2016 were announced. Official Champagne and wine partners to BAFTA, Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria were on hand throughout the evening to help the glamorous…
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Celebrity Interview: Celia Sawyer
Celia is a self-made multi-millionaire businesswoman. She is the founder of exclusive Knightsbridge interior design company Celia Sawyer Luxury Interiors, which boasts a portfolio across the globe. As a dealer both on and off the big screen, Celia collects art and collectables and has an extensive client base for which she sources rare and beautiful…
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Simpsons Wine Estate Secures RDPE Grant for Winery Development
Charles and Ruth Simpson of Simpsons Wine Estate are delighted to announce that their application to the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Growth Programme for grant funding for the development of a state-of-the-art winery, has been successful. The grant will assist in the conversion of two barns, which are situated equidistant to their vineyards…
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English Sparkling Wine on the Increase in Japan
Could Japan be the next big market for English sparkling wine? Japanese wine importer Mottox seems to think so; after noticing the growing potential of the industry, they have decided to add 4 English sparkling wines to their portfolio. The chosen wineries are Hush Heath, Hattingley Valley, Digby Fine English and Bolney Estate. Sales of Champagne have been…
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