ENGLISH WINE WEEK - 24TH MAY - 1ST JUNE

It's almost English Wine Week. Hurrah! Any excuse to have a glass of vino or two. Now, if you’ve chatted to Jo Randell at a Perfect Friday Wine event before, it’s likely that she's already bent your ear about just how wonderful English Wine is these days. But for those of you who are yet to meet her, I asked her to enlighten us about English wines and Maidenhead's vineyard scene. Here's what she has to say...

As we approach English Wine Week, says Jo, allow me to introduce you to Maidenhead's own local vineyard scene, some of our closest vineyards and what they’re up to, in the hope that I can intrigue you enough to get a little bit interested in English wine, how it’s a growing player in our local produce scene and encourage you to get out there and taste it!

Stanlake Park's Walled Garden

Dropmore Vineyard, Dropmore, Buckinghamshire

John Petersen owns and tends to three acres of vines on the top of the hill, just a few hundred metres East from Hedsor House. I met John back in January when he was halfway through the winter pruning and I was allowed to have a go at a spot of cane pruning. Tucked away off the country lane, he grows not only the three champagne grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinor Meunier, but also popular white grapes, Bacchus and Ortega. As well as a sparkling white wine made from the former three, John also produces still wines, a rosé and two whites. His 2011 Bacchus won best white wine in any class at last year’s T&CVA (Thames and Chilterns Vineyard Association) Challenge, so I am eagerly awaiting the release of his latest vintages for potential Perfect Friday Wine listage. Also, look out for Dropmore wines over the summer in local gastropubs.

Pump Lane Vineyard, Little Marlow

You may have noticed, as you drive up the A404 towards Wycombe, on the left there, at the top of the hill, a few vines, a glimpse of Henry Laithwaite’s, son of Tony, new venture. Planting of the vineyard started back in 2010 and the first grapes were harvested back in 2012 - the most exciting year yet for the consumption of English wine, what with the Queen drinking it on her Jubilee Flotilla and further Union Jack waving throughout the Olympics. 2012 was also a year that many English vineyards wrote off entire harvests due to the horrendously wet weather, so a successful harvest that year is a promising sign for the Pump Lane site. We won’t see any of Henry’s wines for at least another year, but in the meantime, try Henry’s mum’s Wyfold English Sparkling from Laithwaites, which came joint 4th behind Bluebell’s Rosé in the JoPG. You can also keep up with progress with the Pump Lane Vineyard on the Harrow and Hope English Sparkling Facebook page.

Stanlake Park, Twyford

Perhaps the best known local vineyard, not only do Stanlake make their own range of wines, but many local vineyards use their wine-making facilities and expertise of resident wine maker, Vince Gower. The vineyard itself has recently changed hands, so who knows what’s in store, but they grow a whole plethora of grapes, Stanlake’s Kings Fumé has just been awarded an International Wine Challenge Bronze Medal and they have a variety of different wines, including a couple of reds. I’d certainly recommend a trip to their shop and beautiful courtyard garden on a summer’s day for a taste of their wine and perhaps a picnic. They also run winery tours with a nine wine tasting.

I hate to go on too long, but I couldn’t write an article on local English wine without venturing a little further beyond Marlow. Follow the river round to Hambleden and you’re in Henley’s own little wine country where several vineyards are sited; Oaken Grove are reknowned for their fabulous ‘Benham Blush’ rosé; Fawley and Pheasants Ridge, both of whom make some fabulous sparkling and still Bacchus, the latter being available at Gilbey’s Restaurant in Eton, the shop at Fawley being open October through December. Up the hill a bit finds Chiltern Valley who are open for winery and brewery tours - check out their gorgeous line of liqueurs too. There’s also a newly planted vineyard on the Fairmile in full view of the road - Champagne eat your heart out! Head that little further over past Wallingford and you find Brightwell Vineyard, focussing on the still wines and making the best reds I've tried around here, offering tours from June throughout the summer.

So next time you’re looking for a bottle of wine to go with that locally reared turkey or asparagus that you picked yourself, or have occasion for a few bubbles, there’s no need to stop with the local produce with the wine, call Perfect Friday Wine and go English!

Hopefully I've intrigued you and you want to find out more. Come and see me on Saturday 24th May 9-5.30pm at Emmett’s Farm Shop in Little Marlow. I’ll have a selection of guest English wines, as well as my Bluebell Rosé open for tasting plus my usual Perfect Friday Wines available to buy to stock up your wine rack.

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