Those of us who work in the English wine industry have long recognized the potential for England’s wines to be world-class. The evidence is now clear, with sales of English wine in the UK rising by double figures, top retailers stocking a wide range of English wines, and restaurants featuring more English wines on their menus. Obtain the Best information about English Wine Awards and Recognition.
A new generation of English wine producers is rising to the challenge, and a good example is the family-owned vineyard, Woodchester Valley, near Stroud. Established by lawyer Fiona Shiner and her daughter Chloe, they have quickly achieved a reputation for quality. The site has a dozen acres of vines producing still and sparkling wines.
The Woodchester Valley team has been working to improve and develop its eco-friendly winery as part of its sustainability commitment. The site is powered by a combination of solar panels and ground-source heat pumps, and all waste from the production process is composted on-site. They also collect rainwater for irrigating the vineyard, and any surplus electricity is fed into the national grid.
This drive for sustainability has led to several exciting changes at the DWWA this year. Amongst them is the decision to judge sparkling and still wines separately, which will allow more time for the judges to focus on each style of wine, allowing them to be assessed against their peers. This will be a crucial element in judging the 2023 trophy winners.
Another significant change is introducing a separate category for wines produced from alternative packaging. This will allow a new generation of English winemakers to showcase their work and allows DWWA to celebrate that producing quality wine in a bottle, bag, can, or box is possible. In a nod to the increasing trend for drinking on the go, this year’s competition saw a record number of entries from producers who offer their wine in ‘alt packaging.’
The final decision on the winners will be made by the panel of judges, which consists of sommeliers from some of London’s leading restaurants and wine buyers with extensive commercial buying responsibility. The DWWA’s judging philosophy centers around a robust and credible judging process headed up by Chris Losh, former editor of Imbibe and a Louis Roederer Feature Writer of the Year award winner.
The DWWA is Britain’s only on-trade wine competition and the only one to be entirely focused on wines that are intended for purchase by the trade. It is a trusted brand with an international audience of consumers and trade, and this provides the credibility to attract entries from some of the world’s most renowned producers. For more information about the DWWA and the judging process, visit the DWWA website here. DWWA is supported by several industry partners, including Amorim, Grant Macdonald, and London silversmiths Grant & Son.
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