Denbies is Great Britain's largest and most tourist-friendly winery. Although the UK is one of the smallest wine producers in the EU, it is often considered to be the hub of the international trade in wine and, as a result, has a thriving industry stretching from importers and bottlers through to freight forwarders and retailers. The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) was established in 1824 representing all elements of the supply chain.
Grape Varieties of UK
Principal grape varietals grown in England and Wales are Reichensteiner, Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau and Seyval Blanc. Most of which are almost unknown to most British wine drinkers. Out of the top ten countries of origin for UK imports, six are outside the European Union. Australia is the largest exporter to the UK, accounting for 2.5 million hectolitres in 2004. They are followed by France, which accounts for 2.3 million hl and the USA which accounts for 1.5 million hl. The UK is the second largest importer by volume in the EU, very closely behind Germany. Despite currently showing a total of 362 registered vineyards, comprising of 923 hectares, in England and Wales, English and Welsh wines account for less than 1% of the total wine sold in the UK
UK Quality Wine Scheme
The UK introduced its Quality Wine Scheme in 1991. The motive was to help market the best English and Welsh wines. Wines submitted to this scheme must meet strict criteria covering demarcation of production areas, vine varieties, cultivation, winemaking methods and maximum yields. They must also be subjected to an analytical test assessing physical and chemical components of the wine, as well as an organoleptic tasting.
Wines meeting these strict criteria can display the phrase ?English Vineyards Quality Wine psr? or ?Welsh Vineyards Quality Wine psr? on their label. The system is not dissimilar to that of the French Appellation Controll'e system. PSR means Produced in Specified Regions.
UK Regional Wine Scheme
The UK Regional Wine Scheme was introduced on 1st April 1997. According to that scheme, wines must meet certain analytical and organoleptic criteria but the rules are less strict on use of vine varieties.
UK producers may operate under the rules of both the UK Quality Wine Scheme and the UK Regional Wine Scheme. The United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) is the main producer association representing the majority of UK vineyards. English Wine Producers (EWP) is a voluntary group of leading English vineyards working in close association with the UKVA.
Forward thinking winemakers and grape growers are changing the face of the winemaking industry in Australia by bringing in new varieties of grapes and experimenting with them in new regions. The Australian wine industry has actually exploded onto the international scene in recent years with the success of making quality wines and offering them at very good prices, a feat that has led many to brand the wines down under as being lackluster.
Just as with the original pioneers of Australia, the innovative free spirit of the winemakers is causing a revolution in the country with a large assortment of grape varieties being experimented with.
Although there are well over a hundred varieties of wine grapes grown in Australia, the wine industry leans heavily on the classic varieties which are all of French origin. The whites are Chardonnay, Semillon, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc with the reds being Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, and Grenache. Another thirty varieties consisting of thirteen whites and seventeen reds also contribute and are considered second tier varietals according to the leading wine journalist-author James Halliday. The other seventy or so varieties are only used by about ten wine producers, but these are also the producers who are pushing the Australian Wine Industry into a new era.
Some of these are exotic grape varieties such as the Graciano from Spain, the Petit Manseng of France, Italy's Lagrein, and the Russian Saperavi. In addition there are also grapes of Australian origin and mutations of others that are being experimented with.
The traditionalist vineyards and winemakers are aghast over the developments of some of these more aggressive winemakers and their use of such a wide assortment of varietals to develop new wines but the fact of the matter is that these new pioneers are introducing new wines that could very well birth the next premium Australian Wine.
These forward thinking winemakers are taking cast off and lesser thought of grapes and blending them into much desired wines. The Viognier variety underwent a similar process in Europe in the 1960s when it was nearly gone with just a few acres in the Rhone Valley and now it is all over France and California as well as being used by over a hundred winemakers in Australia alone.
If you want to take a vacation to Australia and are a wine connoisseur you should consider a vacation in November when the Australian Alternative Wine Varieties Show is held on the banks of the Murray River in Midura. During this event you will find grape growers and winemakers from all over Australia and New Zealand showing and introducing new products with the goal of introducing a growing variety of new wines to the wine loving community.
Both Martin Rusett & Gregg Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Martin Rusett has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Wine and Spirits and Wine and Spirits. Winelines was founded by Martin de Rusett, an established Wine Merchant and lecturer in London. The Company aims to expose the mystery that surrounds wine tasting as well as wine making, storing and serving, in order to educate and entertain. For more inf. Martin Rusett's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Find out about at. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.