Jenkyn Place English Sparkling Wine Strikes Gold
Hampshire-based English sparkling wine producer, Jenkyn Place, is celebrating a successful year on the international awards circuit.
Jenkyn Place Brut Cuv?e 2009 achieved a hat-trick at this year's Sommelier Wine Awards, winning the coveted Critics' Choice and Food Match (fish and chips) on top of its Gold medal 'for delivering freshness, elegance and 'Englishness' at a great price.'
This is the first time that English Sparkling Wine has been given a category of its own at the Sommelier Wine Awards, reflecting the fact that the on-trade is beginning to take English wines much more seriously. Ridgeview, Henners and Chapel Down also won Gold medals. Chris Losh, competition director, said, 'The English sparklers put in a hugely impressive performance, winning over even the most sceptical sommeliers.'
The Jenkyn Place Brut Cuv?e 2009 also won Silver medals in the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine and Spirits Competition as well as a Bronze medal in the International Wine Challenge.
The Jenkyn Place Sparkling Ros? 2009 won a Bronze medal at both the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge. This is only the second vintage of the Ros?.
Simon Bladon, owner of Jenkyn Place, comments, 'Our goal in 2004, when we replaced hop fields with vines, was to develop top quality English sparkling wines. I can't believe how far we've come in less than a decade. This international recognition for Jenkyn Place makes all that hard work worthwhile. As active members of English Wine Producers, we have seen the industry develop and mature and it seems that this year it has come of age, earning its place on the international stage as a serious category in its own right, producing world class wines.'
At this year's London International Wine Fair, English still and sparkling wines from eleven producers took centre stage on a special pop-up stand. Visitors from the UK, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland, South Africa, Canada, the US and Russia flocked to taste English wines and the feedback was extremely positive. A seminar, hosted by ukvine.com also attracted a full house and some healthy debates, confirming the trade's interest in English wine.
Stockists
Jenkyn Place's wines are available from good independent wine merchants across the UK and from a selection of online wine retailers. The Jenkyn Place Brut is also available from 24 Waitrose stores across the South. The recommended retail price for both wines is £24.99 although prices may vary depending on the stockist. The wines are also available to buy wholesale through Matthew Clark.