tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42407084308776950052024-03-14T03:07:15.891+00:00GuytheGrapeThe wine business as viewed from an English VineyardGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-89142025740134299782019-05-13T09:37:00.001+01:002019-05-13T09:37:59.131+01:00Born to be Wild. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Born to be wild.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In life, we all like to have a bit of control over things. That
reassuring feeling that everything will go to plan and while nothing is ever
guaranteed, you expect things to turn out well. In the winemaking world, this
is what happens when you make your wine with a commercial cultured yeast. The
vast majority of wine is now made using strains that are pretty predictable and
will do the job quickly without too much risk. This being the case, why did we
decide last year to go back to the wild side and let our grapes ferment with
the natural yeasts to be found in the vineyard? The answer is that there is
research that suggests that no two vineyards have the same finger print
and so you are tasting the unique product of our environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The process was pretty nerve wracking. A commercial strain does
its job in a week or two but our indigenous Somerset yeasts were still slowly
working away until after Christmas. The results? We couldn’t be happier. We
think that our newly released 2018 White Wine has an additional character and
richness that we haven’t had before. We will probably now make all of our wine
this way but, I can’t say that it will be good for those nerves! If you would
like to try it, call into our shop at the vineyard on a Saturday or visit
Pitney Farm Shop or Wine World in Illminster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Reccomendations</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> – If you haven’t visited
Wine World opposite the church then it’s worth a visit. They sell wine at low
margins and have a constantly changing stock of interesting bottles so. I
particularly like False Bay Chenin £5.99 ( which is also Wild Ferment) and a
good Organic Wine from Torres called Habitat £7.99. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-11141742075817965022018-12-10T10:13:00.003+00:002018-12-10T10:17:29.440+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A Vintage Year Part 2.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Those of you with memories that go back as far as last September
will know that I wrote in The Leveller about the potential for the 2018 English
harvest and I’m glad to say, it seems that potential has been realised. You are
never quite sure how things will turn out until you taste the finished wine
but, winemakers with much longer memories than me are saying that it’s the best
harvest that they have known in this country. What makes it great is that we
got quantity and quality, anybody that was here on harvest day will attest that
the grapes tasted amazing with real intensity of flavour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4240708430877695005&pli=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One question is, where will all this English wine go. The answer
is that the big producers have been having to hold back on sales as they just
haven’t had the stock and so this will allow them to grow both here and in
particular, in North America which as a huge appetite for what we’re doing.
The futures bright and the future's fizzy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wine Tip of the month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I think that I write this every year but, end of November/Early
December is deal time. The supermarkets guess ( correctly) that if people buy
wine early, they will drink it before Christmas and then buy more at full price
just before the big day. They will be holding various buy 6 get 20% off deals
and the trick is, to then link this with the loyalty points that they hand out
this month on clubcards and the like which give additional discounts. If you
time it right, you can buy under cost price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-72269688737859277642018-12-10T09:26:00.001+00:002018-12-10T09:26:37.990+00:00<br />
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Winemaker’s best friend.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Here
we are in December and the year has flown by! It must be something to do with
getting older as it seems like only weeks ago that we were planning our vineyard
work and wine making for the year. It’s a nice time for us, the wine is safely
in tank and the vineyard is completely dormant and so we have winter
pruning to look forward to in the new year but for now, it’s a chance to sit on
the sofa in front of the fire. We do have one vital task though , recruiting a
new vineyard dog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our
dog Fred arrived one week before we planted the vineyard. He was just a year
old and we were already his fourth owners. It wasn’t his fault, he was just a
regular energetic young Labrador but through circumstance he was shuffled
around between people and was completely untrained. Like all great dogs, he
quickly became part of the family regularly entertaining visitors and stealing
our thunder during vineyard tours. Sadly we lost him after a short illness in
the summer and so we’re on the lookout for a new canine friend. The
qualifications required are being a good listener, coping with my singing in
the vineyard, GSOH, rabbit chasing desirable but not essential . We will be
holding interviews soon and the package includes accommodation in a comfy dog
bed in front of the fire, a wage of dog biscuits and the occasional ball
throwing based entertainment. Background unimportant but he or she will have
big paws to fill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-48187388617095709402018-10-25T12:51:00.000+01:002018-10-25T12:54:27.793+01:00<br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The positive vibe around 2018 got me to thinking about the
word vintage. Its literal meaning is the wine of a single year as
opposed to a blend of various harvests. This is how we use it in the trade but,
it also has a positive connotation as being applied to something of exceptional
quality. Largely this comes from wines like Champagne and Port where the
regular products are blends and traditionally they only made wine from a single
vintage in the really good years. One thing that you do see is that when
you get a really great vintage in one place, news spreads and people assume
that it applies to all regions.</span></div>
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src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="101" /><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">When I first started in the business we
were selling the truly wonderful 1982 Bordeaux and on the back of it, demand
for 1982 Burgundy increased despite them making pretty thin and dilute wines.
In hot countries there is less variation in climate and so less variation
between vintages and there’s a case for saying that due to global warming, the
same is starting to happen in Europe. To take Bordeaux again, the really
great years came around about once or possibly twice a decade if you were
lucky. Since the great 2000 they have had 05, 09,10,15,16 all being
declared “Vintage of the Century” with some of the ones in-between also being
pretty tasty (01,03,06, 14, 17).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A Vintage Year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our small world of English Wine Making is all a in bit of a
quiver. Potentially we’re facing the best harvest for a long time, certainly
since 2009 and perhaps one of the best ever in our short history. That being
said, the last month is the most important and so there’s still a way to go
until we get those precious grapes into the winery. At a recent growers
meeting we were all a bit flummoxed as to what to say to each other. Like all
farmers, we like a good moan but nobody really had much to complain about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-17989955768868185032018-10-25T12:43:00.002+01:002018-10-25T12:44:20.990+01:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><img alt="Image result for wine snob cartoon" height="200" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/dating-wine_snob-wine_snobbery-wine_connoisseurs-wine_boxes-resealable_caps-mbcn3776_low.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Snobs and Bores.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Snob<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">noun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">a person who believes that their tastes in a
particular area are superior to those of other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Bore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">noun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="sense" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="dttext"><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">one that causes weariness and restlessness through lack of
interest </span></span><strong><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">: </span></strong><span class="dttext"><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">one that causes <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boredom"><span style="color: #265667; text-decoration: none;">boredom</span></a>:
such as</span></span><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="sense" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="dttext"><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">a dull or tiresome person</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="sense" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sense" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="dttext"><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">There’s nothing worse than a wine snob unless, it’s a wine
bore. The difficulty is, I think I may be one of them. I’m generally pretty
happy with a glass of anything made from fermented grapes. It could be a nice
cold Wolf Blass Chardonnay costing six quid in Tescos or a poncey
Bordeaux Chateau that’s been lovingly stored for a decade just waiting for the
perfect moment to be poured. The only thing that matters is that it’s a good
drink. My problem ( lies on couch and stares at the ink blot on the wall) is
that having spent a quarter of a century buying, selling and making the stuff,
I have retained an abnormally large amount of information about booze with the
emphasis on abnormal! So, here’s some advice. If you see me and ask a
question about wine, I may get carried away and in the style of Mrs Doyle from
Father Ted, I may go on. And on. And on and on….to the extent that, it might be
boring. I do try not to but sometimes, I just can’t help myself. Here’s a
tip, if you want me to stop my blathering just say the words Black Tower.
The first wine I ever tried that I really liked. It was Christmas. I was
twelve. It came in a black knobbly flask. Enough said.</span></span></div>
<div class="sense" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="dttext"><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><img alt="Related image" height="166" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/food-drink-wine-pretentiousness-first_dates-pretentious-waiters-forn280_low.jpg" width="200" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">One thing that I am not is a wine snob. My taste is no more
refined than anybody else’s and certainly not superior. Having been trained to
constantly judge wine quality, when I first taste something I do tend to
analyse it which is an particularly annoying habit. The good news is that by
the second glass , the world will once more be my lobster.</span></div>
<div class="sense" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="dttext"><b><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">This month’s tip</span></b></span><span class="dttext"><span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #303336; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; padding: 0cm;">. The new Lidl Wine Tour should now be in the
stores. At the time of writing it isn’t on shelf and so I haven’ tasted
any of the wines yet . It is based around France and it’s always worth a
browse. For example there’s Moulin a Vent for £7.99, some nice Southern French
Reds. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-77587389138228242282017-12-30T14:53:00.001+00:002017-12-30T14:53:22.536+00:00Glasses.<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m writing this in the continuous
long Sunday afternoon that is the week in-between Christmas and New Year. The
intake of food and drink at Higher Plot and at various relative’s abodes has
been prodigious and the urge to write an article about further indulgence isn’t
as strong as it could be. We don’t feel too guilty about taking advantage of the
Slackmus period partly because the end of the holidays means getting our big
coats on for the start of winter pruning and also, I’ve just read an article
about the alcohol intake of one of the greats of the wine trade 90 year old Michael
Broadbent’ His son wrote - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>"Though my parents were in the wine business they aren't
big drinkers. Champagne for breakfast because orange juice is so boring without
Champagne. Then nothing until lunch, except perhaps you'd be given Madeira
because their coffee was so bad. But otherwise nothing except for a Bloody
Mary. They'd then have white and red wine with lunch and Port after, but that's
not drinking, it is part of the meal. But nothing else until dinner, except the
tea was so bad that you'd get Madeira instead. Before dinner, they would have
one drink, either a gin and tonic or whiskey and then, of course, white and red
wine with dinner followed by Port. However, because of my father's heart, his
doctor told him "you have to have something to drink before bed", so then he has a Grand
Marnier."</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This sounds a prodigious and indeed, it is certainly
way more than your doctor would recommend but the thing is, they drink out of very small
glasses. Probably around 100ml. Over the
years glasses have got larger and larger to the extent where it isn’t uncommon
to be served wine in a 250ml glass in other words, a third of a bottle and more
than the recommended daily allowance for a woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58QqORxIqAE/WkenoDqIzpI/AAAAAAAADd8/ezCB3HIaS4gLSiRyp1dfohLbMWVqfJUUgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20171230_124933617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58QqORxIqAE/WkenoDqIzpI/AAAAAAAADd8/ezCB3HIaS4gLSiRyp1dfohLbMWVqfJUUgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_20171230_124933617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This picture is of
some of the glasses that we have at home. From left to right, the first two
glasses are 18<sup>th</sup> Century wine glasses, not much more than a thimbleful
in today’s terms. The third one is still pretty small, a Paris Goblet which was
common up to the 1990’s. The fourth is what’s called an ISO glass. This is what
we use at the farm. It’s a completely standard size and shape and is to be found
in practically every professional tasting
room from Tuscany to Tumbarumba. It’s
based on the Sherry Copita and if you could only have one glass for every type
of wine ( or spirit for that matter), this would do the job. Second from the
right is our personal favourite. It’s a Riedel restaurant red wine glass. Handmade
Riedels cost a fortune but these machine made ones are around £3.50 and £5.00
per glass and comfortably hold 175ml. The last glass doesn’t come out of its box very
often. It’s made by Dartington and the large surface area means that you can
practically stick your face inside it if you have a really special wine.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If there was only one rule about which wine glasses
to buy it would be that they should narrow towards the top to capture wines
lovely aromas. That being said, drinking young red wine from a beaker in the tapas
bars in Rioja works just fine and, of course you can’t beat a glass of fizz
from one of those Champagne Coupes allegedly modeled on Madame de Pompadour's breast.
</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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" 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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-80993349706243537322017-12-30T09:24:00.001+00:002017-12-30T09:24:34.965+00:00Post Harvest R&R<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uftDiZEpv_0/Wkda0mCJe1I/AAAAAAAADcA/7mqSMS4XUo4MnvGfqQJH3_gGeaFZ30-kQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uftDiZEpv_0/Wkda0mCJe1I/AAAAAAAADcA/7mqSMS4XUo4MnvGfqQJH3_gGeaFZ30-kQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0293.JPG" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">By the time you are reading this, me and Mrs Grape will have our
feet up, furry slippers on and will be on the sofa drinking cream sherry and
nibbling Garibaldi biscuits whilst shouting at the telly Gogglebox style. Fred
the vineyard dog will be asleep in his bed dreaming about that day when all
those people turned up in waterproofs and wellies to disturb his tenacious all
day snoozing. With the help of our friends and neighbours we will have harvested
six or seven tons of grapes that have been crushed and are happily bubbling
away in a spic and span winery in near Bridport. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The trouble is, as I’m writing
this, we are four days before harvest and my weather forecast habit has
gone completely haywire. I am bingeing on a random rotation of half hourly Met
Office, BBC and Accuweather. I am </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeJWreCdR-4/WkdbGE5KK-I/AAAAAAAADcM/0KEsDbDdad48ZRl6xWMDyqxhKl3Ub_J_ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeJWreCdR-4/WkdbGE5KK-I/AAAAAAAADcM/0KEsDbDdad48ZRl6xWMDyqxhKl3Ub_J_ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
willing the band of rain predicted for Sunday
to arrive early and be through by early morning. In my wilder moments I have
contemplated reaching out to the owners of any convenient off shore wind
turbines to ask if they can turn them around for an hour or two to blow it
through. Alternatively, I wonder if we could flag down a passing helicopter
from Yeovilton to make a quick stop to give a bit of down blast to dry everything
and everyone out. The next task on our list is feeding the forty or so people
that are going to turn up. An army of pickers marches on its stomach and needs
cake. Lots of it. Is a strong leaning towards Coffee and Walnut a
Somerset thing? With the weather we’ve been having recently, you’d think that
Lemon Drizzle would strike a chord. There is daily discussion with the winery
on the subject of how the grapes are looking. Is there any mould ( as of today,
no), what are the sugar and acidity levels, the tonnage expected and
general timings. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This is now our eighth harvest and every year, the thing that
never fails to strike us is how everybody pulls together. The crew doesn’t turn
up just for a single day taste of the bucolic life, pickers lunch and a glass
of wine. To a man and woman, they stay until every grape is picked and the last
crate is loaded onto the truck. We love them.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-64914985153190295342016-12-13T18:11:00.003+00:002016-12-13T18:17:28.928+00:00You don’t always need to be small to be beautiful. <b><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">You don’t always need to be small to be beautiful. </span></u></b><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Why
do people with more money than sense ( which incidentally is something that I
aspire to) sometimes pay thousands of pounds for a single bottle of wine? One
of the main reasons is scarcity. If there are only a few hundred bottles of
something then wealthy people can pay ridiculous prices to own one of them.
This is all very well but are there wines that are real classics that are
produced in large enough quantities for us mere mortals? One of the best places
to find the answer is Rioja where producers such as Muga and Rioja Alta make
large volumes of absolutely consistent genuine quality. My absolute favourite
is a company called called CVNE (Pronounced Coonay) - Compania Vinicola del
Norte de Espana or roughly translated as The North Spanish Wine Company. So far
so glamourous. A few years back ( well, almost 20 if I was being honest)
I worked for their British agent and have loved their wines ever since to the
extent that more often than not, any godchildren, nieces or nephews that we
acquire get a bottle on arriving into the world as they ( hopefully the wine
and the children) age beautifully. CVNE make upwards to 10 million bottles per
year but you’d be hard pressed to find a dud amongst them. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My first
introduction to them was driving up to their winery in Haro which looks a lot
like a Victorian workhouse. It was all a bit dusty and was showing signs of
wear and tear but when they put out a range of wines going back to the 1960’s
then I realised that this really was a very special wine maker. The reason that
they can produce such large quantities of great wine is that they are blenders
as much as grape growers and this allows them to build long term relationships
over many generations with the best vineyards. They also age their young wines
in oak barrels which sort of gives them a head start to maturity.</span></div>
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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Where
can I buy them? </span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANxc42etGAc/WFA69ERuBUI/AAAAAAAAA6I/Ie9iyJEy9NE1cJZTDbfZPXWlp5Yl77OWwCLcB/s1600/Capture1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANxc42etGAc/WFA69ERuBUI/AAAAAAAAA6I/Ie9iyJEy9NE1cJZTDbfZPXWlp5Yl77OWwCLcB/s1600/Capture1.JPG" /></a><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
best place is Majestic Wine Warehouse - All prices are if you buy six or more
mixed bottles </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Crianza 2012 is on offer at the moment at a bargain £6.99. I would be hard
pushed to think of any red wine that’s given me and Mrs Grape more consistent
drinking pleasure over the years. CVNE Reserva is £9.99 and the very
special Imperial Reserva from the Rioja Alta region is £20.00. They also
produce a single vineyard wine made by a lovely man called Jesus Madrazo called
Contino which you can buy from Waitrose Cellar at £25.00. In the wine business
we always talk about the price/quality ratio and in these terms, the wines are
really great value. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-52637570257946284702016-10-05T09:39:00.000+01:002016-10-05T09:39:10.628+01:00Here's a winemaking game to play, Twist or Stick?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PnD5tjX6Yoo/V_S2axGevII/AAAAAAAAA3Y/QcWBdmFZRu81VnCgdNw1hCyWBrp3-m0iwCLcB/s1600/Vineyard%2B23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PnD5tjX6Yoo/V_S2axGevII/AAAAAAAAA3Y/QcWBdmFZRu81VnCgdNw1hCyWBrp3-m0iwCLcB/s320/Vineyard%2B23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meunier Grapes.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0c1wEKhx8IU/V_S0RfyFBrI/AAAAAAAAA3M/sTllZm4u5NsAJuDaZXYjLXZwFSET7PyXQCLcB/s1600/Vineyard%2B17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0c1wEKhx8IU/V_S0RfyFBrI/AAAAAAAAA3M/sTllZm4u5NsAJuDaZXYjLXZwFSET7PyXQCLcB/s200/Vineyard%2B17.jpg" width="133" /></a>The information available to play this game is - as of 5th October your grapes are ripe enough to pick. They would produce a wine of around 9-9.5 % alcohol which is plenty and would make a nice wine but you'd probably need a tiny amount of sugar added to the tank to bring it up to 10%. The key thing isn't this but, it's ( adopts Greg Wallace from Masterchef voice) flavour. They are already picking up some nice interesting qualities beyond just tasting of sugar and acid but, if you left them for another week, they could get really interesting. So, it seems obvious that you'd leave them. The dilemma is, the weather is currently perfect but, next week there's a chance of rain which adds the risk of disease and would dilute the juice. Here's the Met Office forecast.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l49EY4UBmv0/V_S3GvZZnNI/AAAAAAAAA3g/sL1nXPMX2IwjlbhhqS8K4SRq3_5fvQ32wCLcB/s1600/Vineyard%2B35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l49EY4UBmv0/V_S3GvZZnNI/AAAAAAAAA3g/sL1nXPMX2IwjlbhhqS8K4SRq3_5fvQ32wCLcB/s1600/Vineyard%2B35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l49EY4UBmv0/V_S3GvZZnNI/AAAAAAAAA3g/sL1nXPMX2IwjlbhhqS8K4SRq3_5fvQ32wCLcB/s200/Vineyard%2B35.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #1d2129; text-align: start;"><b>UK Outlook for Sunday 9 Oct 2016 to Tuesday 18 Oct 2016: </b></span>The largely settled weather is expected to continue through much of this period. Despite some spells of bright or sunny intervals, it will often be rather cloudy with outbreaks of light rain in places, especially across eastern coasts. It will remain rather cold for the time of year with breezy conditions continuing, especially across more coastal areas. There will also be some cold nights as well with a local frost possible and the chance of some mist or fog patches. Stronger winds and more in the way of rainfall may affect western areas towards the latter part of this period, bringing a return to milder weather, but detail remains uncertain about this change of weather type with the potential for the largely dry conditions persisting throughout.</div>
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"Stronger Winds and more in the way of rain may affect Western areas". Accuweather has at least some rain 15th -17th October which is when we would pick. <br />
What do you do, Twist or Stick? Answers on a postcard please. <br />
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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-52534303627911069612016-08-25T18:12:00.000+01:002016-08-25T18:12:29.223+01:00Living the dream - Ten things that might help you if you are planning to make wine from scratch in England.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dream.</td></tr>
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As we followed the big removal truck down our road in the burbs to start our life back in the West Country, one of our neighbours shouted "livin the dream" by way of goodbye . Life was going to be one extended daytime TV property show. The sun would always be shining, all year round lambs would be frolicking in the fields and horny handed sons of toil would be leaning on gates and chewing straw ready for a chat and a glass of cider. Of course, this has absolutely no resemblance to how we were feeling - we were completely arse clenchingly terrified. What sort of practical things would our 1997 selves have liked to have known before we started our big adventure that may have helped us on the way? <br />
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1. If you are in possession of a large fortune, welcome to having a small fortune. If you are in possession of a small fortune, say goodbye to it. If you don't have any fortune, you are about to give every waking moment over to your dream of making great wine and so, ask yourself, do you really want to do it.Really really? Really?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living the dream. </td></tr>
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2.Are you as happy working alone in a field for the whole day in the bleak mid-winter with nobody to talk to except rows upon row of vines as you are spending a whole day doing nothing but talking to people about how you stand alone in fields in the middle of winter talking to plants? <br />
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3. Build a five year plan with steps built in for the major milestones on the way.</div>
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4. Rename it eight year plan.</div>
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5. Don't do this on your own, co-operate. Talk to as many other vineyard owners as you can. There are precious few souls in this world as stupid as you are and they will help you and provide a shoulder to cry on as someday, you'll be doing the same for them. </div>
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6. If you want to make good wine, the most important single decision you will ever take will be location. The fact that a vineyard would look pretty from your dining room is not a good reason to plant there. Nor is proximity to a pub and good schools, neither will cheer you up ( well the pub might) if you are three years down the track and still no signs of a grape.<br />
7.Farm equipment is unbelievably dangerous. Vineyard tractors are small but they have everything that can slice off a body part as cleanly as a really really big one.</div>
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8. Work out your costs and be absolutely forensic. Include every single expenditure that you can think of from sprays, equipment, and labour right through to the number of wellies you'll wear out.</div>
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9. Take your fine tuned budget and add a gratuitous 60% on top. This is now your budget.<br />
10. Get a vineyard Dog. Make sure he or she is a good listener.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14vt96RG_IY/V78iiRXp60I/AAAAAAAAAhw/m-8Q_HWQ0cUqzSwiCXKfoNuPpFN9qAp0QCLcB/s1600/1148928_714551201895238_58289575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14vt96RG_IY/V78iiRXp60I/AAAAAAAAAhw/m-8Q_HWQ0cUqzSwiCXKfoNuPpFN9qAp0QCLcB/s200/1148928_714551201895238_58289575_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EevyJ7mmMjc/V78ljhgdJgI/AAAAAAAAAh8/0PyCj0UJv3otCNPxt8Xnj84l7Amjq0_AACLcB/s1600/Smithevanssparkling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EevyJ7mmMjc/V78ljhgdJgI/AAAAAAAAAh8/0PyCj0UJv3otCNPxt8Xnj84l7Amjq0_AACLcB/s200/Smithevanssparkling.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
Do we regret giving over eight years of our lives to get our wine off the ground? Not for a single second.<br />
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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-33636609673664640242016-06-09T11:57:00.001+01:002016-06-09T11:57:41.396+01:00Jancis Robinson.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPskQ_k8npQ/V1lLiuAuINI/AAAAAAAAAgg/We0_CYl9C1U1KBGsiIWx-BGwjso6BJwSgCLcB/s1600/Jancis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPskQ_k8npQ/V1lLiuAuINI/AAAAAAAAAgg/We0_CYl9C1U1KBGsiIWx-BGwjso6BJwSgCLcB/s1600/Jancis.JPG" /></a></div>
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When I started out in the wine business, there were two people neither of which I have ever met that had a huge influence on me. One was Hugh Johnson and the other was Jancis Robinson. Today there is a whole industry of wine commentators all vying for PR spend of mega bucks wineries but it is still frustratingly rare to find writers that have their happy combination of a fine palate and unforced erudition. Because of this, it is a distinct honour that of 84 English wines tas<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ted on Jancis <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FRobinson.com%2F&h=hAQHzLiK3AQHmVAyc2aGqXCeyZMMllbTg2wv16b1YKj6omw&enc=AZNx7ZbbDT3Pn__zGRWCp0mks3JvOI1WX39Zap3DKJO21eb6Pfo2m9uYPxGo_APDwxKQt3y8nEZYoJq71sCt-oEXBCstkNB1HYPU2Yhr-Dfm2gM-Cg258c52GCX2MGPp_dv5vc2eYNQOMKbWnghKD9IfdSMbEzTMBgENOeX-j2MRo3Gyaw8BunyxaPynWR9S7P0UisIQ7c4-x0cAt8U96iv8&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Robinson.com</a>, only three scored higher than the 17/20 of our 2011 Sparkling. The article is on the purple pages of <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jancisrobinson.com%2F&h=pAQF_SKFOAQEYjXJth6USSaH1czvTu8oQ1a1J_5efZr8aAA&enc=AZPX1sEa3KAe7KCUCnt0cQS2RFYfvLi4t4FvCvPmupJ6UlZGz3acFkI_POR8iD1Q_6SkjNJPQlIUUFiL8xb3hXQnJOvgBNOodRVjfa-AC37QJlP1J-9YYF_5xnP39HqFfrQsR57arfDLo4x1T-1KNjHCODVkXbZXmev2_MKD3jmpiTO-keQPNQmOghyYRrVxiqTTu8bPLx3O88C99nNQE1lJ&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.jancisrobinson.com/</a> which are subscription only (something well worth paying for if you're into your wine) but I hope they won't mind me posting it here.</span></div>
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Almost everything about English (and Welsh) wine gives cause for cheer. Labelling is getting better and better, with only a few old-fashioned 'cottage industry' style brands remaining. Plenty of newcomers are releasing their first vintages, keeping the old hands on their toes (so to speak) and giving us Brits a diverse homegrown industry to be proud of.</div>
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Smith & Evans, Higher Plot Somerset Chardonnay/Pinot 2011 England<br />Guy Smith and Laura Evans. 40% Pinot Noir, 35% Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. Some 2010 reserve wine. RS 6 g/l. No chaptalisation. Around a third of the wine had three months in third-use French oak from Chateau Smith Haut Lafite, 'sadly no relation!' From low-yielding Dijon clones rather than champagne clones; 'Being burgundian they are intended for interesting still wine which is our starting point'.<br />Not much nose (to begin with, although it did open up more a couple of days later and kept a very good mousse as well). Fine tight-clenched bead. Super-linear, leafy, laurel, lime. Very appetising, some leesy richness only becoming apparent with time in glass - it's one of those wines that seems quite reticent and first and then opens up to reveal lovely depth. A very gentle aniseed note. Gorgeous tension. Layered. Incredibly good and just their second vintage. One to watch! (TC) 12%<br />Drink 2016-2021</div>
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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-35903016957879166142014-08-21T12:08:00.001+01:002014-08-21T12:08:24.654+01:00<header class="editorial__header cf" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 219, 219); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 2px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.571430206298828px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><h1 class="heading heading--xl " style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 2.4rem; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
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We've made it into print in the Western Daily Press - </h1>
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West vineyard has something to celebrate</h1>
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<span class="author" style="box-sizing: border-box;">By <a class="" href="http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/people/Western%20Daily%20Press/profile.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c67a7; text-decoration: none;" target="">Western Daily Press</a></span> | <span class="publication-date" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Posted: August 07, 2014</span></div>
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By JEFF WELLS</div>
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<img alt="Guy Smith and Laura Evans of the vineyard in Aller celebrating the first batch of Somerset's only sparkling wine PICTURE: SWNS" class="http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/Article/images/22127581/6603364.jpg| kalooga_12288" src="http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276309/Article/images/22127581/6603364-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" /><div class="caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.3rem; line-height: 1.38; padding: 10px 10px 0px; text-align: center; width: 874px;">
Guy Smith and Laura Evans of the vineyard in Aller celebrating the first batch of Somerset's only sparkling wine PICTURE: SWNS</div>
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Somerset's first sparkling wine to be made from the same grape varieties as champagne was launched with a pop last week at a vineyard in Langport.</div>
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Guy Smith and Laura Evans, of wine-makers Smith & Evans, based at Higher Plot farm in Aller, celebrated the success of their unique venture at an official launch party at Great Bow Wharf.</div>
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The 2010 Vintage was made from grape varieties harvested four years ago and is the first sparkling wine ever made in Somerset using the same techniques as champagne.</div>
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The sparkling wine will now be on sale at outlets across the county including Williams Supermarket in Somerton and Evans The Butcher in Langport.</div>
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Mr Smith, who has been in the wine industry for most of his working life, said: "I always wanted to make wine but I thought I would have to go abroad to do it.</div>
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"But we realised that England had this potential for sparkling wine. You need grapes with a very long growing season to get the right flavour.</div>
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"The process we used is only really used in Champagne. There are a few sparkling wine makers in Kent, but no others in Somerset.</div>
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"I have worked as a wine trader for years but wine making is what we want to do in the long term."</div>
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He added: "The launch went really well with around 40 people there – these were the people who have supported and encouraged us throughout and it was good to share our product."</div>
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For years the couple dreamed of owning their own vineyard and searched across the county to find the right spot.</div>
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In 2007, they discovered the ideal south-facing plot, enriched with Burgundy-style soil, in Aller.</div>
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In 2008 they sowed 3,200 vines and transformed a former meadow at Higher Plot Farm into a vineyard.</div>
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The first harvest was finally ready for picking in 2010 and the couple were joined by 20 villagers armed with secateurs, wellies and hundreds of storage crates.</div>
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The first wine was ready a few years later but today's sparkling wine – made from the grapes harvested in 2010 – has been through a double fermentation process which has taken the best part of four years and gives the wine its fizz.</div>
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Mr Smith explained: "The flavours and aromas in our sparkling wines are made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes.</div>
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"We don't produce homogeneous wines year in year out as we want to fully express the character of each season.</div>
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"In some years the wine may be a bright white and in others it may have a delightful pink tinge depending on what the grapes decided to do that particular year. Some years are fuller and rounder, others elegant and focussed."</div>
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The couple live on the farm with their black Labrador Fred.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.571430206298828px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Read more: <a href="http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/West-vineyard-celebrate/story-22127581-detail/story.html#mIExJ58KRBwZIiI1.01#ixzz3B1X4BVmW" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/West-vineyard-celebrate/story-22127581-detail/story.html#mIExJ58KRBwZIiI1.01#ixzz3B1X4BVmW</a></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: open_sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.571430206298828px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Read more at http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/West-vineyard-celebrate/story-22127581-detail/story.html#pPbBITYzmRb3mI2J.99</span>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-59276204063195045582014-06-06T10:32:00.000+01:002014-06-06T10:32:15.115+01:00Miguel - Grandpa to Smith and Evans. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btH6jASQnIE/U5F_sTNb3-I/AAAAAAAAANY/Os_wgTEVir4/s1600/Big+Mig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btH6jASQnIE/U5F_sTNb3-I/AAAAAAAAANY/Os_wgTEVir4/s1600/Big+Mig.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miguel Merino.</td></tr>
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The man in this photo is Miguel Merino who in some ways is the inspiration for Smith and Evans wine. In the mid 1990s when I was working for the Spanish company Freixenet, I was asked to have dinner with the export guy for a Navarra winery called Ochoa. This sort of thing could be a real chore but Miguel was great and we had a lot of laughs. He was talking about buying a building a winery from scratch.<br />
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In his own words -<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: open-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20.399999618530273px;">Since the beginning of my exporting career I have long dreamt of having my own small "bodega", where I could make a few bottles of wine of the best quality possible. Briones, in the heart of the Rioja Alta, gathered all the conditions I was looking for: old steep vineyards of Tempranillo grapes, chalky soil and a climate showing a marked Atlantic influence. Declared a town of historic and artistic merit, Briones is where we decided to site our bodega.</span><br />
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Twenty years ago, we restored an old 19th Century house on the outskirts of the town. On the adjoining land we built facilities for vinification, barrel and bottle ageing and planted a small experimental vineyard.</div>
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Now, as one of the smallest and youngest wineries in Spain —our first vintage was 1994— our wines are among the most prestigious in the country, and we are exporting them to over 30 markets. This encourages us to grow, not in quantity, but to constantly improve our style; how to get the best from each grape and each barrel. To continue to enjoy our wine-making</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miguel's Bodega.</td></tr>
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It had honestly never ever occured to us that a regular bloke with neither a trust or hedge fund could do this. One of the first adages you are taught is that to make a small fortune in the wine trade you have to start with a large one. Looking back on the first seven years of the vineyard I think that actually maybe that's true. Many of those that are now planting vines in England seem to have biographies that say so and so bought the land in their second life after making piles and piles of cash in their first life.<br />
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We have always called him Big Mig in hommage to the great Indurain and over the years we have always seen each other at the various wine fairs around the world but as is often the way, we rarely had time to properly catch up until this week when I showed him a picture of our bottle number 1 ( I doubt he remembers but he gave us his bottle number 4). Miguels advice? Congratulations, you have done the hard bit. Now that your wine is going out into the wide world the real worrying begins. Suffice to say, he and his sons make truly great wine. You can read more about them at www.miguelmerino.com/ If we ever finally get an online shop going, we must try to get some of his wines.<br />
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<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-6959420529963782972014-05-13T11:01:00.002+01:002014-05-13T11:02:26.510+01:00Double Decker Vines.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Guyot.</td></tr>
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When we planted at Higher Plot we chose a system called Double Guyot. Not because it had my name in the title but just because that's what French people did. Not exactly scientific but as good as anything to start with as it wouldn't stress the vines too much. What we have found is that the plants are happy here, maybe too happy and we can't have that. They give a good yield of grapes but they are also pretty vigorous growing lots of greenery and there's no market for leaves unless you are a Dolmades producer. What we need to do is to transfer that energy into extra grapes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Henry</td></tr>
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This year we're experimenting with double decker vines. This will mean more shoots but shorter ones. This has benefits in that less greenery means that there's better airflow which reduces the risk of disease and also potentially better quality as there's less shading and more light to ripen the grapes. Just to name drop, it was recommended to us by the illustrious Richard Smart no less. There are downsides. The bottom row is trained downwards to just about bunny height so they will be munching on the tips. The top deck is trained upwards and so we'll be looking for people with very long arms to harvest.<br />
Will it work? Maybe, watch this space.<br />
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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-48891016019694211482013-02-06T13:46:00.004+00:002013-02-06T13:46:57.867+00:00Winter.I'm terrible at writing the blog so, I thought I'd film it.<br />
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<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-36666117754286648232013-01-11T11:49:00.001+00:002013-01-11T11:49:36.518+00:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Pretty but they work!</td></tr>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;">The Romance of Winemaking.</span></h2>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38;">For me our 2012 wines have existed as two spreadsheets on my laptop that show a series of chemical analysis and wine making steps. Once the grapes are delivered and pressed we issue instructions based on the initial readings as to how the juice should be handled. After that unless there's a proble, there is really not much point tasting the wines as it's easy to make snap judgements on something that is changing so quickly. Eventually no amount of analysis will compensate for getting some of it and having a great slurp to see how it tastes. The result is that yesterday in between meetings I called into the winery and was standing in a lab in front of two cheap plastic jugs that represent the better part of a years work. One a tank sample of 2012 sparkling win</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38;">e and the other our still wine. Always a nervous moment. As we are now three years in, we have a much better idea of the context of how wines will develop and I am pleased to say that I am pleased! The numbers had looked OK but you never know. The guys at the winery said that the still - which will be a very light rose colour, is one of the best if not the best through there this year and the sparkling base wine is really good. We were worried that it would be light and without a distinctive character but really not so. Shame that there's so little of it! Laura and I are going to have to be on strict rations for personal consumption which is not going to be easy.</span></span><h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">We also have some reserve wines in barrel from the last two vintages kept for a rainy day ( well that could be any day) and these are superb - I am really trying to be objective! They have gained richness and depth that on their own would make for something that could be over powering. We will use these as top dressing as the whisky folks call it or maybe sometime we will bottle some up on its own - a super Smith and Evans.<br />Watch this space.</span></span></h5>
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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-17520501187991769252012-10-22T12:53:00.002+01:002012-10-22T12:56:33.059+01:00Glass Half Full. 2012 Vintage.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Liz Weber for the Picture.</td></tr>
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Thinking back on the difficulties of growing grapes in 2012 anybody sane would have just put the secateurs away, polished the tractor and opened a bottle of 2011 Rosé in memory of sunnier times and then sat in front of the telly for the whole "summer". All the way from late April to the end of September it has been like a stuck record - as long as the weather improves from now then all will be well but, it never did. Twice the work for half the crop. That just about sums up 2012 for us. But looking back we do have reason to be quite happy. The site has withstood all the ravages of the worst summer for 100 years and still produced 1.5 tons of clean ripe quality grapes that will make quality wine. This is remarkable considering some illustrious names have made nothing at all and others are up to 90% down. You can always tell that it's a low volume year when we drop off the crop at the winery. There are normally stressed people in various states of sleep deprivation from 14 hour days pressing and pumping juice but this year it was all very relaxed with plenty of time to plan the wine making and have a gossip with Kev the cellar manager.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMkzfIH3Re8/UILDHzhuyNI/AAAAAAAAAY8/7ZpGwQFZ46s/s320/harvestmorn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMkzfIH3Re8/UILDHzhuyNI/AAAAAAAAAY8/7ZpGwQFZ46s/s320/harvestmorn3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Celia for the picture.</td></tr>
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It's also great to say that harvest itself is becoming a joy. Everybody has a good time and it's great for us as for the rest of the year it's just the two of us working together and all of a sudden you have the sounds of lots of happy people amongst the vines. For the first two years I think my prevailing mood was the stress it being the climax to a whole years hard graft and all the things that could go wrong. Now we have done it a few times we have a two week timetable of preparation that means that once we get to the day itself you have a chance to relax a bit more and get into the spirit of things.<br />
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The few days post harvest are strange. You have yet to kick your five times a day Accuweather habit and planning your weeks around spray intervals. Without the grapes the vineyard instantly looks bare and has a very different feeling that is hard to explain, autumn has now begun. Inevitably, your mind starts to think about next year and I found myself picking grapes whilst also looking at where I would make the winter pruning cuts. 2013 starts here.<br />
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<br />Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-28165058218373934932012-10-09T10:59:00.000+01:002012-10-09T11:09:22.860+01:00Why the price of wine will go up and up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things are changing in the world of volume wine trading which makes my job quite interesting at the moment. A series of factors have come into play that mean that wine as a whole is going to become a bit more of a luxury item for most people rather than the first thing that they thoughtlessly reach for from the fridge after a hard day at the office. This is not just down to high taxation although this plays a part. What used to happen was that if the price of something like Chilean Cabernet went up because a poor harvest or more likely foreign exchange movement, then buyers would just drop it and move onto whatever else was cheap which could be Spanish Tempranillo or California Merlot, it didn't matter.<br />
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For years there has been over supply particularly from the European powerhouses of France, Italy and Spain. Growers have been desperate to get anybody to buy their grapes but also with the full knowledge that if nobody did then a friendly EU official would come along and take them off their hands to distill into industrial alcohol. For a few years now governments have been encouraging people to plant alternative crops to cut out the surplus. Unfortunately good sites are just as likely as bad sites to be grubbed up and so it doesn't mean anything for quality. </div>
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Another factor is that the world has become smaller and so growers have cottoned onto what everybody else is getting for their grapes and coupled with rapidly rising demand particularly in the USA and China means that there is less chance of trading off one region against another. It only took one important Chinese buyer to take a trip to Spain last year to hoover up a six or seven million litres to have a major knock on effect on pricing. </div>
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You now hear from many important producers that they are less interested in selling the the UK when they can get more money and get treated better elsewhere. It is true that some supermarkets can be abominable in doing things like delisting lines without warning for stock specifically labelled for them that can't be sold elsewhere. It has to be said not all of them do this and it's certainly not necessarily the ones who are always seen as being the bad guys in the media!</div>
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In the shorter term there have also been poor harvests in some of the real volume regions of Spain, Italy and to some extent France. New Zealand is also short from 2012 which all stacks up to price rises.</div>
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What does this mean - well in general it should be good news for growers. The suppliers of raw materials are always the ones that feel the real pain of our insatiable desire for cheap goods. People need to look to providing them with more secure long term contracts that they can take to banks in order to borrow money for cash flow, expansion and maybe even better quality who knows! </div>
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What does it mean? In the long term it will also be interesting to see where new plantings emerge. It will be dependent on climate change and water availability in particular which would rule out places such as Australia, California and maybe South Africa. My money is on serious expansion in China where they have already proved with crops such as apples that they are capable of large scale consistent and efficient production. Much as I would love England and Wales to fill the gap we will always be a niche high cost region however much growers currently worry about oversupply.</div>
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My other prediction is that consumers will turn to wine based drinks that have fruit juices or other flavourings added and probably lower alcohol - Peach Bellini or a Cranberry Cabernet anybody?</div>
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Watch this space!</div>
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Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-5680962247069739792012-05-11T16:15:00.001+01:002012-05-11T16:15:26.098+01:00Launch of the 2011 WineJo Trendall at alliterative Lettuce and Lovage in Langport has just sent us the menu for our 2011 still wine launch on June 6th. Can't wait it sounds wonderful and hopefully our wines will do the food justice in a great riverside setting. Apparently we are up to 15 people already so looks like it could be a sellout. We will also be serving our Two Tuns Shiraz which in someways is where it all started - buying grapes in the Riebeek valley in South Africa and making wine at the local cooperative with our friend Zakkie Bester. We really should revive this, at almost seven years old the wine is still developing. If you want to book then the details are at the bottom of the post.<br />
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I wonder if there will be a few surprised faces when they see that this years white wine is pink.<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Smith and Evans Wine launch & tasting
Evening<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">6<sup>th</sup> June 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Warm
bread, cannelini bean and olive puree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">To Start</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">
(rose)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Mackerel
fillet, rhubarb compote, Israeli couscous, mint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Main Course</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">
(Shiraz)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Braised
shin of beef, parmesan and thyme polenta, salt roasted beetroot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Fresh
Strawberries, sweet ricotta, lemon shortbread<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Cheese<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Blue, honeyed walnuts, dried fruit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Tickets £35 per person<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Booking essential – call Jo on 01179 856767
or email at jo.trendall@lettucelovage.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-90977180274986316452012-02-22T09:00:00.003+00:002012-02-22T09:00:30.850+00:00Natural WineAn often used cliché is that to become a great abstract artist you have to first learn to be a great figurative one. To mix clichés we are very much learning to walk before we can run both in the vineyard and the winery. Making wine from scratch is such a long process that you often rethink and change tack as you learn what you land is like, how the vines settle in and the effects of various winemaking techniques. The orthodox view is that you need to have massive control over every step of the process and that any deviation will cause disaster.An alternative is a growing movement that is making minimal intervention wines. In the 1970's and 80's you would probably have a hit rate of 30-40% faulty wines and many of these new wines remind me of those days. I think that most of us just want to have something that we know is going to be tasty.<br />
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After harvest this year the sun continued to shine for a couple of weeks and some of the grapes that were too unripe at harvest matured and we decided to make some wine with no interference. No added yeast, no sulphur, no temperature control, fining nothing just crushed grapes in a demijohn. On Sunday we tried the Chardonnay. I was sort of expecting something not 100% clean and fresh, maybe a bit funky and smelly but hopefully interesting. The true taste of the Terroir.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural Chardonnay.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, it was </span><span style="font-size: small;">completely clear, </span><span style="font-size: small;">clean fresh and pure with zinging acidity. Young but really good. Is this really the pure expression of our land? Later this week we will be getting samples from the winery of the controlled proper version and it will be interesting to compare them. Maybe we are all a bit too anal about winemaking and just letting it happen naturally might be an option. On the other hand, are the flavours different enough to justify the risks? This question is one that will run and run for us, probably for the rest of our lives.</span></div>
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</tbody></table>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-67884179351475408862011-12-01T09:26:00.001+00:002011-12-01T10:29:44.634+00:00Dumb, Dumber and Marketing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRb5dPPpnX5X1OKbmMi7smu8c_kQbSNTQ4eG0RlN93lFc43FeKH" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRb5dPPpnX5X1OKbmMi7smu8c_kQbSNTQ4eG0RlN93lFc43FeKH" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solutions to what exactly?</td></tr>
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I rarely feel the urge to rant on a blog. Actually, I rarely feel the urge to rant full stop.In a nice gentle way I have vines, winemaking and cider to write about . If people are interested then that's lovely but I suppose that I write the stuff mostly as my way of recording what changes on the farm.As a middle aged Englishman I obviously have an inbuilt genetic hatred of people who throw litter out of car windows and of people that queue jump but that's unavoidble.<br />
In my day job I get to write quite a lot of copy for products whether it's for back labels, websites or press releases. I enjoy it but there are those lazy lazy words and phrases that you could so easily slip in to save having to use a single brain cell, it's so tempting but you know that you would feel ashamed and unclean afterwards.<br />
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<b>Authentic</b> - as in, Authentic Italian Pizza produced in Germany/Ireland<br />
<b>Edgy - </b> any product aimed at middle aged people trying to believe that they are cutting edge as in This Premium Foccacia Slicer has Edgy Italian design.<br />
<b>Cutting Edge - </b> Edgy for Top Gear viewers.<br />
<b>Premium</b> - Cheap but with more Alcohol, Fat, Sugar ( delete as appropriate)<br />
<b>Crafted -</b> Made by the millions by Robots.<br />
<b>Hand Crafted - </b> Made by Robots and packed by a Robert.<br />
<b>Passionate - </b> I have honestly seen "We are passionate about toilet and personal hygiene products"<br />
<b>Innovative - </b> Same product, new pack.<br />
<b>Excellence - </b>Ordinary. The phrase "Excellence as Standard" gives 153 000 000 results on Google.<br />
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<b>Pursuit of Excellence - </b> Can't even do ordinary.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><br />
<b>Best Practice - </b>We adhere to a strict set of rules and have no imagination or flexibility.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mission Statement - </span> All of the above rearranged in random fashion.<br />
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<img height="200" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="200" /></div>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-40068967490595610542011-10-25T16:28:00.000+01:002011-10-25T16:35:06.441+01:00Making Real Cider<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xuUI8fQ3pw/TqbFuaseY5I/AAAAAAAAAKg/8ykAFnEDteo/s1600/pre+1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xuUI8fQ3pw/TqbFuaseY5I/AAAAAAAAAKg/8ykAFnEDteo/s200/pre+1913.JPG" width="200" /></a>At one time virtually every farm in Somerset had its own cider barn where householders would make cider for themselves and their workforce. They were usually partially under ground and had a tree planted right next to them to keep them nice and cool in the summer. This photo was taken at Higher Plot sometime late in the 19th century and shows the barn on the left with its newly planted tree. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6se9U8W2Ks/TqbIVO51r6I/AAAAAAAAAKo/KexEYdxx5e8/s1600/IMG00089-20111025-1312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6se9U8W2Ks/TqbIVO51r6I/AAAAAAAAAKo/KexEYdxx5e8/s200/IMG00089-20111025-1312.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Sadly this year the tree didn't show any signs of life and so will have to come down after more than 100 years. It may re-grow from the roots but if not, we will plant a new one.<br />
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A very small number of farms in Somerset still make cider in the traditional way and I went down the road to Beer Aller to help out at Nightingale Farm where they use an old press and crusher to mill local apples. Unlike wine making there's no sulphur, cold stabilisation or anything like that just the natural yeasts from the apples. As they say, the force of the ferment will be strong enough to get rid of any impurities ( but not in quite such a polite way).</div>
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The way to make it is to build what's called a cheese which is alternate layers of the crushed apples and straw inside a wooden mould. It is quite skilled and hard work which is lubricated with a supply of early season Morgan Sweet cider. It also helps being tall so that you can reach the top of the cheese which could be why they asked me.<br />
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Once finished, a heavy wood board is lifted on top and the screw lowered down. The weight of the apples will start the juice flowing and once the pressure is applied it becomes a dark brown torrent. Then all there is left to do is to occasionally turn the screw whilst having a chat and some more cider. We tasted the end of last years cider which locally is called Screech because this is what it makes you want to do. It's completely dry and acid but is just about OK if mixed with the fresh juice.<br />
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The result can be delicious particularly when young and we are trying to pursuade Roger and Linda to do an extra batch for us to bottle. It would mean a cider that has been made for hundreds of years being sold for the first time which I suppose is a way of keeping it alive. I can't help feeling that if this was being made in France or Italy us Brits would be raving about a traditional product and way of life and how wonderful it is. Because it's on our doorstep we aren't interested. Happily there are signs that enough people want to keep this alive simply because it's unique and, most importantly, it tastes great.<br />
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</div>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-79218956712517489872011-08-03T13:03:00.000+01:002011-08-03T13:03:43.970+01:00The Vineyard this SummerThe vines are looking good this year - lots of grapes although some slightly uneven development.The most important month will be September when they complete ripening. In many places in Europe they have already started harvesting due to the warm spring - this is almost unheard of and Winemakers in France have even had to take their holidays in July and not August - Bonnet de Douche! to quote Del Boy Trotter. I'm not sure what this will mean for quality but it will be a large crop in many regions. Our next step is Veraison when the grapes change colour, swell and soften up which we would expect in two weeks or so. Then, it's hoping and praying.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chardonnay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice Neat Rows</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KtuB1cWmUA/Tjk1_2Y7VdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/yLPfleGS5ts/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KtuB1cWmUA/Tjk1_2Y7VdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/yLPfleGS5ts/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgNpfcnsK08/Tjk2lLF2EUI/AAAAAAAAAJw/GXhUf0wy6HM/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgNpfcnsK08/Tjk2lLF2EUI/AAAAAAAAAJw/GXhUf0wy6HM/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-67226464974806064742011-07-01T16:15:00.000+01:002011-07-01T16:15:26.668+01:00Smith and Evans Pinot Chardonnay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6GflsmIqlmk/Tgw9AGkSuqI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/v3uq2PyKkBY/s1600/IMG00033-20110628-1554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6GflsmIqlmk/Tgw9AGkSuqI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/v3uq2PyKkBY/s320/IMG00033-20110628-1554.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><b>This is it. </b><br />
After three years outdoors in all weathers risking life and limb on potentially lethal agricultural machinery - the first 600 Bottles.<br />
We really concentrate on sparkling wine and I suppose that for us the still wine has been partly in its shadow. We made it mainly just as something good for us to drink and perhaps a bit to sell. We are now thinking that we should take it a bit more seriously. It's good.<br />
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For something made from young vines it has real structure and balance. Admitedly it's not Comte Lafon Le Montrachet Grand Cru 1996 and the Marquis de Laguiche won't be losing too much sleep but, it's like a well made Chablis but less neutral with more aromatics.<br />
The only thing to do as soon as it arrived, road test it -<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 Nasi Goreng Noodles Salmon and Pinot Chardonnay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Obviously, the first thing we did was the sitting in the sun drinking your own wine overlooking your own vineyard cliche. Where are daytime TV cameras when you need them? Then dinner - It works with spicy foods. Today, a visit to the fishmonger for it's shellfish credentials.<br />
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This is big for us, all the research in the world can tell you that a vineyard had great potential but, you honestly never really know until you taste the finished wine. There is still an element of mystery as to why one site works better than another. In Burgundy a wine that sells for £100 can be right next door to one that only fetches £10. This is what makes it so interesting.<br />
If we had the money, we would happily drink the whole lot ourselves although 600 bottles for two people in a year is a bit much even for us. The news is, the wine is good and we love it but, as the vines root down and really start to express themselves, we now know that one day the potential is there to make something really special.Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16683201479430478856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240708430877695005.post-34193982680882400442011-04-08T16:33:00.001+01:002011-04-08T16:35:52.313+01:00What's the Point?<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Aller Hill This Morning.</div><div><br />
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</tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In the last three years, working the vineyard has sometimes seemed like an end in itself. It has a life of it's own full of numerous pleasures, miseries and anxieties. You work towards each step from planting to winter pruning or deleafing and feel some sort of achievement once it's done and move onto the next one. Some vineyard owners are like competitive pushy parents - the same old cuckoo like calls herald the coming of spring with extraordinary tales of how their Rondo is sprouting Triffid like into life or their Seyval has 15 kilos of grapes per vine and could speak three languages by the age of four .</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The thing is, it's easy to forget the whole point - trying to make great wine that somebody just might want to buy and enjoy.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Sneak Preview</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Well, the time is rapidly coming when we are going to have to present the fruits of our labours (sorry couldn't help myself) to the wider world. The label is almost finished, one more trip to the winery to go work through cold stabilisation, filtration and bottling procedure and then that's it - Bottle Number One for Sale.<br />
We are nervous but excited - the wine has been developing well but you really never know until it is finally in bottle and has had a couple of weeks to settle down.<br />
Then - it will only be two more years until the sparkling is ready which is what we planted for. Still - that's two more years of obsessing about the vineyard to enjoy in between.<br />
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