Boost local-sourcing credentials by backing English Wine Week
While many restaurants, hotels and pubs have recognised the benefits of buying food from local suppliers the same can rarely be said of wine.
Study the wine lists at the vast majority of licensed venues and chances are you`ll find plenty of wines from France, Australia, Chile and other wine-producing nations, but hardly any from our own.
Reputation, questionable quality, lack of supply and simply poor knowledge of the wines produced here are some of the reasons why English wine is literally bottom of the wine list for many hospitality businesses.
However, last week Camel Valley Bacchus 2007 became the first English still wine to win a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge following a bumper month for the industry (24 awards were won in the IWC, 86 per cent of English wines were awarded at the Decanter World Wine Awards and a load more at the IWSC).
As Julia Trustram-Eve of English Wine Producers, says, `English wines are showing their star quality` and restaurants, pubs and hotels who use locally produced and seasonal ingredients for their dishes should note the suitability of English wines to match many of their dishes.
"English white wines go well with so many lovely summer dishes and especially with English cheeses," says Trustram-Eve.
"The on-trade is the perfect place for English wines and now is the time for places to get involved."
- Next week BigHospitality will be supporting English Wine Week (23-31 May) with a look at the pros and cons of selling English wine.
In support of the event we`ll be finding details of all the latest wines from England`s top vineyards, speaking to sommeliers, publicans and restaurateurs about English wine and finding the best English wine and food matches.
Wine writer and consultant Susy Atkins, fresh from devising an almost completely English wine list for Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall`s River Cottage Canteen restaurant, will also be adding to the debate with her views on our nation`s wine.
Log on from 26 May for all this and more.
Are you doing anything to support English Wine Week or do you think English wine still has some way to go before it`s ready to sell at your restaurant, hotel or pub? Email your thoughts on English wine to arjf@ovtubfcvgnyvgl.pb.hx
picture: Bolney Wine Estate
