Tag: Wine

It Came From Outer Skipton…

Posted on by Andrew Stark

The Wright Wine & Whisky Company has teamed up with The Liberator, Richard Kelley MW (Master of Wine) to bottle a limited-edition red blend, which is inspired by a 67 year-old French law relating to UFO’s.

Liberator Skipton

“It Came From Outer Skipton…” is a from the Newton Johnson winery in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on the South African south coast. A blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes, it is an assemblage not dissimilar to that which you would encounter in the Châteauneuf du Pape region of France, where a ban on UFO’s has now been in force since 1954.

The law, which was created to protect the vineyards, forbids the ‘flight, landing and take-off of spacecraft’, known as soucoupes volantes or cigars volants.

Due to Skipton’s location not too far from the RAF Menwith Hill military base, whose giant ‘golf balls’ (called Radomes) give the moorland the look of a science-fiction film set, as well as a love of the Syrah and Mourvèdre blend, The Wright Wine Company and Richard Kelley devised a plan to bottle something a bit special and quirky.

Richard (whose Liberator alter-ego is known as Rick) took the brief and ran with it – combining his long-standing connections within the South African wine industry and well-known sense of imagination to come up with “It Came From Outer Skipton…” which plays on the UFO and obscure French law theme.

Richard Kelley MW, said;
“I love South African wine and am a Francophile at heart too. The similarities between these South African and French blends were too similar to ignore, so was perfect for Julian and team at the Wright Wine Company to do something a bit different for their customers.”

Stella, Les, Richard, Julian and Katie

Julian Kaye, Managing Director, The Wright Wine & Whisky Company added;
“We absolutely love The Liberator wines and the chance to do something bespoke with Richard was too good to miss. Having our faces on a bottle is a bit strange to say the least – but giving a wine-themed nod to our local area – as well as a classic wine such as Le Cigare Volant is fantastic. Plus, the wine is spectacular too.”

“It Came From Outer Skipton…” was launched at the end of October and is available in store and here.

Query wine making

Did You Know…? Georgian wine.

Posted on by Andrew Stark

Georgia, the country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is the “cradle” of winemaking – wine was first produced in what is now Georgia some 8,000 years ago and it happened by accident!
Grape juice seeped into an underground clay pit and naturally fermented into wine. UNESCO has listed the traditional Georgian winemaking method – in a clay jar, or vessel called a Qvevri – on its truly bizarrely named category called “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”!!

Please find link which comes with some chart topping, foot tapping, sing-a-longa music! Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Did You Know… Sauvignon Blanc is the “Mother” of Cabernet Sauvignon?

Posted on by Andrew Stark

It may come as a surprise that one of the world’s most revered black grapes originated via a chance crossing of another black grape – Cabernet Franc – and the white grape – Sauvignon Blanc. This is believed to have occurred in South-West France some time during the 17th century. Whilst miles apart in colour, you can though find some aromatic and flavour compounds which link these two together – most notably the herbaceous and chopped green bell pepper bouquet and taste – particularly in cooler climate examples. And Cabernet Franc come across more like a restrained, unplugged, or “acoustic” version, of the mighty and tannic structured son Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Wright Wine Company recommends:

  • Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, Mayfly                                     2017    13.0%  £10.00
  • Saumur Champigny, Tuffe, Château du Hureau, ORGANIC          2015    13.0%  £14.50
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Montes Alpha, Colchagua Valley, Montes   2014    14.0%  £14.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc

Reynolds Winegrowers, Portugal

Posted on by Andrew Stark

The Reynolds family originated from England and have had associations with Portugal since Thomas J. Reynolds arrived in 1820 – attracted by the potential of the wine trade.

Set on the edge of the Parque Natural de Serra de S. Mamede close to the Spanish border – almost parallel with Lisbon – the one-hundred acres of vineyard is surrounded by meadows, oak and cork trees on a soil of mainly shale.

The terrain promotes huge temperate variations from night to date which gives great ripening conditions for the grapes, which are mainly the Alicante Bouschet variation which was introduced to Portugal by the Reynolds family.

Sophie Shepherd paid a visit to this Wright Wine Company favourite in June…

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