PRESS RELEASE

4th April 2011

THE ENGLISH ARE COMING - ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE TASTING TO TAKE PLACE AT VINITALY

For the first time ever, English Sparkling wines will be featured at Vinitaly.

A group of top sparkling wine producers will be heading out to Verona to present a range of wines to an assembled audience of trade visitors and journalists as part of the tasting events taking place alongside the wine fair itself.

The trade visit was encouraged and implemented by Italian wine magazine Euposia, who are organisers of an international sparkling wine competition, Bollicine del Mondo, an Italy-based competition only to traditional method, traditional varietal sparkling wines.  For the last three years, English sparkling wines have gained some of the highest marks of all the wines tasted, putting England firmly on the international map for sparkling wines.  Prompted by such successes, Euposia wanted to showcase some of England’s leading sparkling wineries to an international audience at Vinitaly, taking place in Verona 7th-10th April.

The delegation from England will comprise:

Bob Lindo of Camel Valley Vineyard, whose wines have won a trophy each year for the last three years in Bollicine del Mondo, including the International Sparking Rosé in the 2010 competition, as well as a host of other national and international awards;

Samantha Linter of Bolney Wine Estate, showing two sparkling wines that boast an impressive pedigree;

Andrew Weeber, owner of Gusbourne Estate, whose first two wines, a traditional blend and blanc de blanc, were released last year and already earned an impressive number of awards and accolades;

Vicky Ash, winemaker at Hush Heath Estate, whose sparkling Balfour Brut Rosé has been winning top awards at national and international level every year since their first release.

Also represented will be Ridgeview Wine Estate, who are, amongst the many awards they’ve won, the current holders of the Decanter International Sparkling Wine trophy – the first time a non-Champagne has won this award; and Denbies Wine Estate, whose sparkling wines have earned them top medals and awards nationally and internationally.

Julia Trustram Eve from English Wine Producers, who will be accompanying the wineries to Vinitaly and representing Ridgeview and Denbies, commented: “this is a first for English sparkling wine - to have an opportunity to showcase some of our top wines to a truly international audience.  This is a start to seeking a higher profile abroad for our wines.”

The tasting will take place on Saturday 9th April tasting room Sala C, PalaExpo A2, 1° floor at Vinitaly, starting at 3.30pm.

Ends

For more information please contact Julia Trustram Eve, English Wine Producers email: julia@englishwineproducers.com

Euposia magazine Editor Beppe Giuliano – boss@euposia.it