It was impossible to get from one end of the room to the other without witnessing numerous reunions as friends and business associates chatted and shared experiences amongst the rows of exhibitors.
Recent winners at the WineGB awards were exhibiting including Sandridge Barton, Gusbourne and Digby Fine English who were the winners of the WineGB Supreme Champion 2023 award for their 2013 Vintage Reserve Brut.
It was fantastic to see so many vineyards in attendance. The diversity on offer was a reflection of how vibrant the wine industry is in England and Wales. Buyers and members of the press were able to experience wines from Chapel Down, The Grange and the long established Biddenden Vineyards alongside wines in alternative formats such as those produced by The Uncommon and wines from smaller newer vineyards.
Welsh exhibitors Velfrey, Montgommery Vineyard and The Dell Vineyard were able to offer attendees wines that were varied and exciting.
Velfrey Naturiol 2021 made from late harvested Seyval Blanc displayed qualities of apple pie on the nose whilst the still wines of The Dell Vineyard the rosé Y Lleidr 2022 and white Yr Afanc 2022 encapsulated the taste of summer. The story behind the name Y Lleidr which translates as The Thief is a reference to the fact that the blackbirds and the badgers had decimated the 2021 crop. Montgommery Vineyard displayed excellent quality wines and showcased the beautiful qualities of the Seyval Blanc and Solaris grape varieties.
Several positive comments about the day centred on the number of new producers who were attending the event for the first time.
Radlow Hundred were attending their first WineGB press and trade tasting but this was also the very first time they had exhibited at any trade tasting.
Radlow Hundred offer still wines comprising of a single varietal Solaris white, a Rondo and Solaris blended rosé and a red produced solely from Rondo. This selection will make Radlow Hundred attractive to the on trade. The grapes are grown on a family farm that has a strong connection to fruit growing going back generations. The label has managed to link the past to the present in a relaxed manner that has an appeal that is difficult to explain but somehow reaches out in a manner reminiscent of artwork from vintage railway posters. The label literally brings a sense of joy and warmth before the bottle is even opened, making it a perfect gift. The contents were as good as the labels and it was a privilege to witness a group of visitors trying the red wine from this brand and seeing the genuine look of pleasant surprise as they discussed the softness that the wine displayed.
The WineGB Press and Trade Tasting 2023 highlighted the growth, the potential and the excitement surrounding English and Welsh wine. The event brought together large and small producers, new and established vineyards all under one roof and allowed each to shine in their own special unique way.
