It was hailed as the "perfect aperitif wine."
Here's more proof that
English wine is gaining respect in the drinks industry. A winemaker in
Norfolk has become the first English vineyard to win a major
international award for a still wine.
Winbirri Vineyards based in Surlingham, south Norfolk, was awarded the Platinum Best in Show accolade at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2017, the wine magazine reports.
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
The Bacchus 2015, which
retails for around £13.49, was one of only 34 wines to be awarded one of
the the prestigious medals out of more than 17,200 entries. After it
won a top medal at the English and Welsh Wine Competition 2016,
the Bacchus was awarded 95 points out of 100, a score which has
resulted in it selling out at Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and wine
merchant Lea & Sandeman.
[post_ads]According
to the judes, Winbirri's produce is the "perfect aperitif wine". They
praised it for being "well-defined on the palate with grassy notes," and
described the taste as "very elegant and delicate with a slight spritz
and a long, clean finish".
To
win the top prize, the wine was given a gold medal by a panel of judges
led by a regional chair. However, to land the Platinum Best in Show
title, it had to go up against other vineyards from around the world in a
blind tasting led by an international expert panel.
Winbirri's
head winemaker Lee Dyer said Norfolk's climate helped to secure the
award, as the Bacchus grape favours the drier autumnal conditions seen
in this area.
[post_ads_2]
"Norfolk has so much potential as a wine region, particularly when it comes to still wines," Dyer told the Eastern Daily Press.
"I think Bacchus has to be the jewel in the crown and, more
importantly, for my site as it just works so well here. The flavour
profiles and aromas we can achieve here from our vines are second to
none."
"I'm in this for
the long-haul and am looking forward to giving Sussex, Kent and the
rest of the south coast a good run for their money over the next few
years."
Winbirri's award comes after an English sparkling wine beat several Champagnes at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2010. And in December last year, it was reported that home-produced premium fizz
is now exported to 27 countries, with annual sales reaching £100m a
year. It sounds like British winemakers are on to something.
More:
- 128 Game-Changing Ways To Cook Steak
- 32 Super-Simple Salads To Whip Up For Dinner
- 69 Perfect Pasta Dinners That Couldn't Be Easier
