Industry body WineGB is to host its annual trade and press tasting next month, featuring eleven producers showcasing wines for the first time and 46 exhibitors in total.
Due to take place on 4 September at the RHS Lindley Hall in London from 10:30am to 5pm, the tasting will feature the following producers showcasing wines or new releases for the first time.
These include Alder Ridge in Berkshire, which will be pouring its Blanc de Noirs 2014 and London’s Blackbook Winery, which sources its grapes from Essex, East Anglia and Oxfordshire.
East Sussex producer Busi-Jacobsohn, will be pouring its first-ever release, a limited edition sparkling brut wine from 2017. Also from the county, Off the Line and Roebuck Estates will also be joining the event for the first time.
Two new Charmat wines will also be on pour, courtesy of Fitz Grange Estates in Hampshire and Flint Vineyard in Norfolk, which will also be showcasing its Bacchus from 2017.
Alfriston-based Rathfinny will be launching three new Sussex sparklers at the tasting, plus some still wines under the Cradle Valley label. Meanwhile, boutique winery Toppesfield will be representing Essex with its Bacchus, while Woodchester Valley will be flying the flag for Gloucestershire with its two vineyards near Stroud.
Finally, Steven Spurrier’s Bride Valley winery in Dorset will be pouring England’s first crémant at the tasting.
As well as the new wines and exhibitors, key topics at this year’s tasting include regionality, with WineGB Wales, Wessex (including Hampshire), East Anglia and Midlands and the north all with representatives at the event.
Kent’s Biddenden is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, with the second and third generation of the wine and cider producer attending the tasting.
After their success in 2018, a series of seminars will be held at this year’s event. These include ‘the state of the nation’ by Wine GB chairman Simon Robinson and member of the board David Parkinson from 11-11:30am and ‘vineyard visits and making the most of wine tourism’ by Nick Wenman of WineGB South East with assistance from Diana Isac of Winerist and Harry Cragoe of The Gallivant in East Sussex.
To register for the tasting, and for more information, please click here.
