A small Kent village is behind a sparkling wine this week that has been crowned one of the best in the world.

A Brut Reserve, produced on the Gusbourne estate near the Kent village of Appledore, has scooped a prestigious gold medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) – putting it on par with the best French Champagne houses.

Estate owner, Andrew Weeber, is sharing the accolade with more than 60 villagers, most of whom are pensioners, who turn out every year to hand pick 160 tonnes of grapes used to make the bubbly.

Wine critics Jancis Robinson MW (who scored the Brut Reserve among her top English fizzes), Tim Atkin MW and Olly Smith are among its fans. Last year even saw the English bubbly served at Buckingham Palace

Owner of the 200-hectare estate Mr Weeber says: “We’re thrilled by the medal and delighted to dedicate it to the team of dedicated grape pickers who turn out in all weathers to bring in the harvest.”

Rita Everett, 71, who has been taking part in the two-week harvest for five years says: “We’re just like one big family; it’s a great opportunity to meet up with friends and chat. To know that grapes we picked were served at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Olympic banquet makes it all worthwhile.

“Most of us are pensioners; I think they tried students but it turned out they weren’t reliable. You ache on the second day but soon get used to it.”

When 160 tonnes of grapes are safely in, the pickers celebrate with an annual barbecue.

“We get to taste it, although I’m not much of a connoisseur,” sys Everett, a retired charity worker and WI member, who took on the seasonal job after answering an ad in the parish magazine.”

Gusbourne sparkling wine

The Gusbourne sparkling wine, which sells for £24.99 a bottle, was described by judges as having “the aromas of hazelnut and toast” with an “underlying delicate redcurrant fruit and a hint of rose”. They said it had a “creamy fresh acidity, giving impeccable balance with a long savoury finish’.

When South-African born Weeber, a former orthopaedic surgeon, planted the first vineyard at Gusbourne Estate in 2004 by hand, friends and family thought he was mad.

But even then he believed his vineyard, on the edge of Romney Marshes, would one day rival the best sparkling wine producers in the world.

It was the Romans who first discovered how fertile the soil is there; the mixture of sand and clay with a bedrock of chalk is ideal for sparkling wine production.

Weeber says: “The escarpment slopes southwards with a fall of about 60 feet, which will help the vines capture the full benefit of the sun. The leaves are little individual solar panels.”

“We are delighted with the award, ultimately we are a family business and one that is totally committed to the local community at all levels. We are proudly English, and moreover, we are proudly Kentish. I dedicate the award to our 60 or so pickers who do an amazing job.”

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The new £1.5 Million visitor centre at West Street vineyard in Coggeshall, Essex has  opened its doors to the community. On a glorious sunny day, TV crews, live radio broadcast and local press witnessed the event on, appropriately, St Georges Day, 23 April 2013.

There was sensational interest from the locals, traffic jams were reported regularly during the morning as 300-400 people gathered and queued to try the English wine at the new educational wine barn, saw the breath-taking mezzanine and views across the vines, were shown the smart card system for the pioneering automated wine wall as the first in a UK vineyard and opened the glam wine cellar for the Essex Wine School and tasting bar.

Victory was for St George, owner Stephen Mohan and his wife Jane Mohan who had worked constantly over the last four years to make West Street Vineyard new English Wine Barn happen.  St George arrived on horseback ‘Dancer’ courtesy of Braintree Equestrian Centre in full armour, as worn by Orlando Bloom, and showed chivalry to the guests with red roses, as the classical brass ensemble rang out from Colchester Institute brass quintet and the family showed immense courage for Jane’s mother Josie Stephenson who battled cancer in Colchester Hospital as they raised funds for their new oncology wing.

West Street Vineyard – now open from 9am until 5pm daily.  www.weststreetvineyard.co.uk

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The three speakers on ukvine’s panel discussion at the London International Wine fair (LIWF) next weekhave been revealed. The industry personalities who will debating the future of English Sparkling Wine are:

• Frazer Thompson – CEO of Chapel Down, Kent
• Jane Mohan – Partner at West Street Vineyard, Essex
• Mark Driver – Founder, Rathfinny Estate, Sussex

ukvine editor James Graham is pleased with the trio and the possibilities for discussion the three will offer. He says: “To have assembled this level of personalities promises an interesting and lively discussion. Each has their own take on the future prospects for English wine, both Sparkling and still, which I know they will bring to the event.”

Admittance to the seminar, English Sparkling Wine: is it a bubble about to burst?, is FREE. Seats can be reserved at jg@ukvine.com.

ukvine seminar @LIWF Industry Briefing Theatre 3.00pm to 4.00pm Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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The creation of a community of lovers of English wine who have a vested financial interest in the success of a vineyard is the ambition of the backers of an initial public offering of shares in a a Derbyshire vineyard.

Amber Valley Wines (AVW) of Belper, Derbyshire is to float to 2000 shares of £75 each in order to raise gross proceeds of up to £150,000. Instead of a cash dividend, investors will be paid in wine from the vineyard at Amber Valley Wines, to a maximum of 18 bottles – after which the shares will return to the company.

Duncan Mercer says: “We don’t envisage one individual taking up all shares, as they tender no voting rights, equity or entitlement to capital dividends – they are there to offer wine lovers the chance to get closer to everyone’s dream of owning your own vineyard.  If it did happen we would have the investment needed but we would rather it created a community group of English Wine lovers to share in our dream.  The events planned for shareholders would be on the dull side with only three people there!”

Dividends will be paid in “a reasonable and timely fashion, in as few vintages as weather, harvest and production allow,” he adds.

AVW has over two acres of vines planted, with extra vineyards throughout the lush and verdant Amber Valley set to follow in early 2014. Their first commercial crop will be harvested later that year.

Could others follow AVW’s floatation? Mercer is confident they could. He says: “There is no reason why another UK Vineyard couldn’t do this but most are set up and self-funding: we are at the start of our journey and the investment will help to establish our current plantings, further plantings and our idea of a micro winery, but we do believe we are the first.”

There is potential to re-issue the current share deal, as all 2000 B Ordinary Shares will revert back to company once the full wine dividend has been paid out, and it is likely that previous investors would be offered first chance at a preferential rate.

Photo: Duncan Mercer (left) and Barry Lewis

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Albury Organic Vineyard’s Silent Pool Rosé 2012 will be available at Royal Opera House Restaurants this summer.

Silent Pool Rosé was one of only three English wines served on the Royal Barge last year as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes it is a refreshing still dry wine and is ideal as an accompaniment to light meals or al-fresco dining.

Ben Fielder, beverage manager for Royal Opera House Restaurants, says: “The English wine industry is doing great things and with provenance an important part of our ethos, Albury Vineyard was of great interest. Following our tasting we are proud to have Silent Pool Rosé on our list.”

Winemaker Nick Wenman says: “We are delighted that Silent Pool Rosé has been chosen to be served at another Royal establishment. We hope our quality sparkling wine will also be served at the Royal Opera House when it becomes available in 2015.”

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