Friday 8 June 2012

SEVA Awards



Winemaker Ulrich Hoffmann

Last night our Silent Pool Rosé was award a bronze medal at the South East Vineyards Association (SEVA) awards ceremony. This was quite an achievement given that it is our very first wine. Congratulations to Alex, who lovingly nurtured the vines to give us great quality grapes in a difficult year, and Ulrich who turned them into a lovely wine.

There were no gold medals this year, which probably reflects that the judges are now assessing the wines by international standards: overall there were 7 silver medals, 29 bronze and 17 highly commended. The chair of the judges was Andy Howard who heads up the Marks and Spencer wine department. Silver medals were awarded to the following wines:

   Plumpton Estate’s Dean Blush Brut (NV)
   Gusbourne’s Estate’s Blanc de Blancs (2007)
   Bolney Wine Estate’s Pinot Noir (2011)
   Biddenden Vineyard’s Gribble Bridge Rosé (2011)
   Denbies Wine Estate’s Ranmore Hill (2009)
   Hill Farm Vineyard’s Hill Farm Dry White (2011)
   Sandhurst Vineyard’s Sandhurst Bacchus (2011)

We tasted these wines during dinner and they were all fabulous. Peter Morgan from Plumpton collected the best wine trophy for The Dean Brut Blush, and Gusbourne's Blanc de Blanc won the cup for second place.

Friday 1 June 2012

Silent Pool Rosé- The toast of the Royal Barge!



Much to our delight, our first wine, Silent Pool Rosé 2011, has been selected to be served to the Royal party on board the Royal Barge, Spirit of Chartwell, as it sails down the Thames leading the historic flotilla to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Sunday.

Two other English wines will also be served: Nytimber Classic Cuvee 2007 and the Stopham Pinot Blanc 2010.

Silent Pool Rosé is made from organic Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes from our own vineyard which is expertly cared for by vineyard manager Alex Valsecchi.  Winemaker Ulrich Hoffman, of Vivid Wines, made the wine at his new boutique winery. Thanks must also go to Stephen Skelton who, as well as helping me establish the vineyard, continues to provide us with expert advice.

Royal approval in our first year!