French beef ban puts a fizz in home wine…
French beef ban puts a fizz in home wine…
By Simon Wragg
CORKS are popping as English winemakers celebrate a sharp rise in orders thanks to a backlash against imported plonk triggered by the French beef ban.
"I cant believe they banned our beef. But it has been good news for domestic winemakers," says Christopher Ann of the Sussex-based English Wine Centre.
Although the UKs 100 winemakers are keen to see British beef succeed on the Continent, they have welcomed the beef ban-derived revival. Once relatively unknown, English winemakers have been consistently improving their techniques over the past decade and are now getting well-deserved recognition.
Sales have soared by as much as 40% at some outlets, with demand helped by national newspapers promoting replacements for imported supplies. Growers harvest enough grapes each year to produce 3m bottles, which have a market value thought to be more than £15m.
And that could grow if demand picks up, adds Mr Ann. "Our web-site has never been so busy and we are regularly sending out 10 product lists to new buyers daily.
"Our sparkling and still wines are, in fact, regularly beating the French in blind tastings. Consumers are also realising that it is not as expensive as they thought when compared with similar quality, imported bottles."
Typically, English bubbly packs a punch, having been left longer to mature than its Champagne counterpart. And it is easier on the purse at £14-£18 a bottle. "You can get an excellent 1992 Chardonnay out of a West Sussex vineyard for £18.25. It will have a more complex character than Moet, having been allowed to mature, and is as cheap, if not cheaper."
The boom is badly needed for a small sector that supplies just 0.25% of the UK market. Supplies are tight, but more vines are being planted each year and managed by growers using overseas experience. "Like the beef, we want our market to grow and the current furore may well help," says Mr Ann.
It is not the first time the French have put their foot in it, he adds. "We were stopped from saying our sparkling wines were made using the Champagne technique by its name. In effect we were promoting their produce for free. It was stupid of them to stop it."