Well-known West Country winery, Sharpham Wine, has taken a clutch of top awards at WineGB, a major competition for British wines, which has this year been showcasing the fact that the UK is now regarded as one of most exciting wine regions in the world.
Sharpham Wine, which won a total of four medals at this year’s recently announced WineGB Awards including GOLD for Sharpham Bacchus ‘Stop Ferment’ 2019 and Sharpham Pinot Noir 2018, is presently undergoing an exciting new expansion in conjunction with the Sandridge Barton Winery just across the River Dart. Sharpham also won a SILVER for Sharpham Sparkling Pink 2016 and a BRONZE for Sharpham Pinot Gris ‘Wild Ferment’ 2018.
In addition, Taste of the West has just awarded Sharpham Wine three GOLD awards for Sharpham Bacchus ‘Stop Ferment’ 2019, Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve 2018 and Sharpham Pinot Noir 2019 with a SILVER awarded to Sharpham Pinot Noir Rosé 2017.
Duncan Schwab, head winemaker at the Sharpham Vineyard, commented: “I’ve been working at Sharpham for 28 years and can recall the early days when things were challenging and frustrating as well as rewarding. Back then we often had to deal with difficult growing seasons, but in more recent times the South West has become known as the ‘ultimate cool climate growing region in the world’. “
Duncan continues: “More recently I feel Devon is fast becoming the new Burgundy of the UK. We are planting more Burgundy clones, our season offers the ideal cool climate, slow ripening long seasonal conditions and we are gaining a reputation of producing top quality red wines. I am immensely proud of the brand that has been created over the years and our recent flurry of awards. We have focused on making regional wines from grapes grown exclusively on the banks of the River Dart. Many of these award-winning wines have been made from grapes grown at our sister vineyard on the east bank of the River Dart. Sandridge Barton Vineyard grows Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Madeleine Angevine and Pinot Gris.”
The WineGB Awards is the major competition for UK wines and wine producers and was this year modified after the coronavirus pandemic took hold. July’s judging, with co-chairs Susie Barrie MW, Oz Clarke, and Rebecca Palmer (wine buyer of Corney & Barrow) saw the three experts sampling a record number of wines. With strict Covid-19 measures in place the three judges deliberated all 281 entries over five days.
One of the initial Devon wineries, Sharpham Wine has built an impressive reputation both nationally and increasingly internationally. For nationwide orders of award-winning Sharpham Cheese and Sharpham Wine visit their online shop www.sharpham.com. The ‘Essential Devon cheese board’ is the perfect accompaniment to Sharpham Wine; a collaboration between Devon’s finest cheese-makers.
To keep up to date with all of Sharpham Wine’s news and developments ‘like’ @sharphamwine on Facebook, ‘follow’ sharpham_wine on Instagram or @SharphamWine on Twitter or visit www.sharpham.com.
