Some 50 media and wine enthusiasts enjoyed a showcase of Welsh wines at a tasting event in the John Lewis Food Hall, Oxford Street, London last week.
To celebrate Welsh Wine Week, which ran until June 10, the Welsh trade body Wales The True Taste showcased a range of superb Welsh wines to members of the public at a free event in London.
Still white, sparkling and red wines from Glyndwr Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan and Monnow Valley Vineyards in Monmouth were available. Well-known food and wine writer and former restaurateur Colin Pressdee presented the wines in two shows. He ran through the wines, noting their differing characteristics and pairing the wines with three Welsh farmhouse chesses.
Pressdee is a writer and broadcaster, regularly presenting on Great Food Live, UKTV Food Channel and BBC Radio Wales. He has written several articles for national press such as the Observer, The Times and BBC Good Food Magazine.
Welsh Wine Week 2012
Vineyards across Wales celebrated this year’s Welsh Wine Week from June 2 to 10.
“With homegrown wines currently enjoying a surge in popularity, Welsh Wine Week is the ideal time for consumers to taste Welsh wines for themselves; and discover why Wales is fast becoming known for the high quality of its wines as well as its rugby,” says a Welsh government spokesperson.
Throughout Welsh Wine Week, participating winemakers offered visitors the opportunity to tour vineyards, enjoy tasting sessions and take advantage of special discounts, while learning about how the wines are produced and their individual characteristics develop.
Wales now boasts more than 20 vineyards and produces approximately 100,000 bottles of wine each year. Among the vineyards taking part is White Castle Vineyard in Abergavenny who were due to uncork their first ever wines during Welsh Wine Week.
