English Wine Week runs from Sunday 24th to Sunday 31st May 2015 and is a great excuse to say ‘cheers’ over a good bottle of wine! At the Pandora, we pride ourselves on supporting local suppliers and we stock no fewer than EIGHT local wines on our extensive wine list. During English Wine Week we will be offering all our English wines by the glass, so now’s your chance to try them and see what all the excitement is about!
The English Wine Producers’ website currently lists a staggering 140 vineyards in the south west of England. Although it’s something of a British joke to mock wines made within our own isles (rather like laughing at our weather!), the truth is, English wine production has come on leaps and bounds over recent years and the quality keeps getting better and better. National, we now boast over 470 vineyards with an annual production of 4.45 million bottles.
Here’s a little more detail about the local wines we stock:
Sharpham Brut, Sharpham Vineyard, 2010 Devon
This early harvested wine expresses a delightful spritz with a vibrant citrus mouthfeel. Fresh fruit flavours make for an excellent aperitif or as a superb accompaniment to seafood. Simply delicious. (2) 12% vol. Bottle £36.00, Special English Wine Week offer – £6 125ml glass
Knightor Brut, Knightor Winery, NV Cornwall
Winemaker James Thomas grew up on his family’s vineyard on the magical Isles of Scilly and completed his wine training in Australia. This English sparkling wine is made by the traditional method. It is well balanced with good depth of fruit flavour, and subtle complexity from lees ageing in bottle. Perfect for any celebration. (1) 12% vol. Bottle £39.00, Special English Wine Week offer – £6 125ml glass
Camel Valley vineyards
Camel Valley Brut, 2012 Camel Valley, Cornwall
Superb golden sparkler with elegant fizz and full, ripe flavour, packed with elderflower and hedgerow notes yet trulybrut. (1) 12.5% vol. Bottle £42.00, Special English Wine Week offer – £7 125ml glass
Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé Brut, 2012 Camel Valley, Cornwall, England
A lovely floral and delicate strawberry fruit nose that drives into a brioche, fresh bread yeastiness supported by crisp acidity and a finish of great finesse. Excellent aperitif or with Cornish seafood. (1) 12.5% vol. Bottle £44.00 Special English Wine Week offer – £7.50 125ml glass
The following wines are already available by the glass:
Dart Valley Reserve, Sharpham, 2011 Devon
Super full-flavoured, zippy Estate wine. Energetic and with all the structure for a long and happy life. (2) 11% vol. Bottle £20.00, 125ml £3.40, 175ml £4.65, 250 ml £6,70
The eight English wines on our list
Madeleine Angevine, Knightor Winery, 2013 Cornwall
Elegant, crisp and immensely quaffable wine from a local winery based at Trethurgy near St. Austell. It is reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc with delicate floral and citrus character. Simply delicious. (1) 10.5% vol. Bottle £21.00, 125ml £3.60, 175ml £5.00, 250ml £7.20
Camel Valley Rosé, Camel Valley, 2013 Cornwall
A light, dry rose with intense strawberry aromas. Refreshing acidity and bright red fruit, this is perfect for sipping ‘al fresco’. (2) 12% vol, Bottle £25.00, 125ml £4.20, 175ml £5.85, 250ml £8.40
Bacchus Dry, Camel Valley 2013 Cornwall
Light, floral and delicate with apple blossom and a racy edge. A really vibrant, dry wine that shows the potential of our English vineyards. (1) 12% vol. Bottle £27.50, 125ml £4.70, 175ml £6.50, 250ml £9.40