Laverstoke Park Farm's sparkling strikes gold for second year
The biodynamic vineyard at Laverstoke Park, owned by Formula One World Champion turned Hampshire farm owner, Jody Scheckter, has won a Gold and Silver medal for their 2013 Vintage Sparkling wines at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA).
Their 2013 Vintage Brut was awarded a Gold medal at the competition; the judging took place on Saturday 23rd March at the Rummer Hotel in Bristol’s atmospheric old quarter. The Vintage Rosé Brut also achieved a Silver medal, the first rosé wine to come from the 9 hectare organic and biodynamic Hampshire vineyard. The wine competition - now in its third year - saw 24 judges blind taste 132 wines from 63 producers under controlled conditions.
Alexander Taylor, founder of the IEWA, commented on their success: “This one-two of gold and silver medals from Laverstoke Park is an impressive statement, my congratulations. And two golds in two years from this little known organic producer tells its own tale. These are English sparkling wines deserving of attention”.
Laverstoke Park Farm is delighted to have achieved the award following their success last year after the 2010 Brut Reserve, their first release, secured a Gold medal. Jody Scheckter is pleased with the double podium finish and said: “It is so satisfying when you work so hard on all the details and it shows in the end product. From following the biodynamic principles, preparations, then putting a lot of love into the soil and vines, for this to result in us winning Gold for the last 2 years and additional Silver is fantastic”.
The vineyard manager, Cameron Cousens, believes the biodynamic principles they follow on the vineyard are the key to their sparkling triumph: “With biodynamic wine you get the grapes true terroir- a sense of place, where the grapes truly reflect the soil and environment in which they are grown. We take pride in our soil, so it was natural for us to grow biodynamic grapes, where we can produce the unique grapes that our vineyard has to offer, thus making a distinct wine, with a balance and qualities that are exclusive to our site”.
Laverstoke Park Farm is holding an exclusive event on the estate in July as part of the Hampshire Food Festival run by local food group Hampshire Fare. The event will include a vineyard tour, wine tasting and a visit to their famous Water Buffalo, followed by a BBQ that will showcase the farm’s finest produce.