News

2010

Successes for the MVA in the National Competition Tony Skuriat's success as a maker of Sweet wines was confirmed when Eglantine North Star took the Wine Guild and the Tom Day trophies in the 2010 UKVA competition. The Mercian Association members also did well in the still wine classes, with 2 silvers and 2 bronzes for at Worcester. The southern area also gained further medals with Astley (1 Silver and 2 Bronze) Three Choirs (5 silvers and 3 bronzes) and Tiltridge (1 Silver and 1 bronze) doing well.
Use of Agricultural Premises for Wine Making This is a topic that crops up at regular intervals, as Planning Officers try to convince viticulturalists that they need planning permission for developing a winery on agricultural land. Refer to Millington v Secretary of State for the Environment for a transcript or talk to David Millington at Wroxeter Roman Vineyard. Matthew Bernstein of Kenton Vineyard commented that It’s fairly abstruse stuff, which to a large extent turns on certain technical points, but my understanding is that it has established that a winery which is used to make wine from grapes grown on that holding constitutes agricultural use, This position was accepted by our Local Authority when we built our winery: no change of use was required to turn an existing agricultural building into a winery. The position is probably different if the winery is to make wine for others. If you are feeling mischievous, you might want to quote Lord Justice Mantell, who dealt with this in a couple of lines, as follows: “I agree. For generations, in Somerset and elsewhere they have been making cider on the farm. To suggest that it is not a farming activity or ancillary to the growing of apples would be an affront to common sense. The Secretary of State accepts that wine making should not receive any different treatment. No doubt he will bear that in mind.” Matthew also added a couple of caveats: "Firstly, technically speaking the Court did not decide that this was agricultural use. The Secretary of State had apparently decided the opposite, i.e. that regardless of the facts of the matter, this could not as a matter of law be agricultural use. The case was actually sent for re-determination by the Secretary of State on the basis that as a matter of law this could be agricultural use. It was then for the Secretary of State to decide whether it was. The judges made it pretty clear that they thought that he should find it was agricultural use, and he seems to have done so. However in legal terms this is not so much decisive as very highly suggestive. Regardless of this, it does seem to be the accepted position, and quoting Millington does seem to work."
New Competition Trophy for Members Choice Bill and Linda Hobson of Somerby Vineyard have donated a magnificent trophy for the new 'Members Choice' competition. This will be presented to the winning entry on Competition day- August 22nd.
Another Gold for North Star Eglantine Vineyard's 2006 NORTH STAR- England's answer to Eiswein, has gained a Gold at the Viniales Internationales competition in Paris.Tony Skuriat's latest sweet wine was the only English wine to receive this award.
Somerby launches website Somerby, Lincolnshire's largest vineyard has launched its web site at Anyone thinking of planting a vineyard should look at the videos available on the site which detail the sequence of events in the first year from ground preparation on
MVA expands ever northwards Top South African Chef Pete Gottgens, owner of the prestigeous Ardeonaig Hotel on the south shore of Loch Tay in Scotland, has joined the MVA. In a warm sheltered glen, Pete is growing Orion, Phoenix, Seyval and Bacchus, and took a crop in 2009. He is now expanding up to 2 acres in order to add Scottish wine to the South African wines already served at the hotel.
Sept 2009 Press home in on the harvest potential Articles in the Birmingham Express & Star, the Independant and the Yorkshire Post focused on the high yield and quality of early picked varieties.Vineyards from Yorkshire and Staffordshire featured, with articles repeated in on-line editions, and a short video of Halfpenny Green's Rondo harvest being made available.Yorkshire Heart Became the fourth commercial Yorkshire vineyard to bring in a crop Picking dates can be viewed online
Aug 2009 Tony Skuriat wine the first Wine Personality award The new Henry Robson cup for Wine Personality of the Year went to Tony Skuriat of Eglatine vineyard. Tony is a founder member of the association and was described as kind, helpful and generous with his time and advice. Many new members have benefitted from his support over the years, and the decision of the award panel wa greeted with acclaim.
July 2009 Great starts for Ryedale and Rose Bank Two of Mercia's newest vineyards made excellent debuts in the UKVA Wine Challenge 2009. With their first ever wine, Stuart and Elizabeth Smith of Ryedale, the country's most northerly commercial vineyard, gained a Bronze and a Highly Commended. At the same time Rosebank, newest of Worcestershire's 3 commercial vineyards, gained 2 Bronze and one Highly Commended. Cups went to Astley and Three Choirs, with the latter's Siegerebbe picking up two. For full results in Mercia see the list
TV stars Yorkshire vineyards are making their mark on TV this year. Following the appearance of Leventhorpe on the Oz Clarke 'Round Britain in a bottle' series, Bec and Ian Sheveling featured in a programme on Holmfirth, the country's highest vineyard. For details see Holmfirth's web site
English Wine Week English Wine Week gives the public an opportunity to visit vineyards not normally open to the public, and to taste combinations of Welsh and English wine and food. For locations and suggestions visit Vine, Wine and Dine or the English Wine Producers site for wine combinations and restaurants serving English and Welsh wine.
Ryedale becomes the third productive Yorkshire Vineyard Ryedale Vineyard will introduce its first vintage to the press and invited guests on May 29th, following a small crop in 2008. The wines, a rose and a white, were produced and bottled at the new winery at Westow. Visitors at the open days in English wine week will have a chance to see the new facilities.	Bottling at Ryedale
Sir Reresby Sitwell Bt. DL It is with great sadness that the Association heard of the death in March 2009 of one of its oldest members. Sir Reresby Sitwell planted vines in 1973 at Renishaw Hall, his ancestral house in Derbyshire. At the time, it was the most northerly vineyard in the UK.(And probably in the world) In the early years, wine was made in the cellars, with the press house on the ground floor, and gravity being used to allow the juice to reach the fermenting vats in the cellar below. The vineyard still survives, with new plantings and, in recent years, with the wine being made by Tony Skuriat at Eglantine Vineyard. Sir Reresby was the son of Sir Sacheverall Sitwell, and nephew to Dame Edith Sitwell, the poet and writer. Bob Lindo, Chairman of the UKVA wrote recently of Sir Reresby's great kindness and hospitality He is succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew.
2009 AGM at Buzzards Valley The Annual general meeting was held for the first time in Staffordshire, with over 40 members attending. The association voted to approve the actions of the UKVA in their quest for a satisfactory outcome to the current wine naming problems. Basically, these involve the current world trade talks, where products currently trademarked, but containing a Geographical name, will no longer be protected. The UKVA currently has obtained a 2 year derogation to give members time to change names. For 2009-10, the officials elected were: Chairman: Chris Gallimore of Welcome Hills Vice-chairman: George Bowden of Leventhorpe Treasurer: Richard Rallings of Morville St Gregory Secretary: Julia Tickridge of Chester February snow hits the northern vineyards
Ryedale Vineyards, Yorkshire	Frome Valley Vineyard, Worcs. Many vineyards across the north have been hit by the worst winter for a very long time. The main effect has been to delay pruning- though some hardy souls have been out and about!
Snow at Welcombe Hills, Warwickshire	A hardy pruner in Habberley,Shropshire See also Winter page

Increased popularity for Welsh Wine

Top French award for Mercian Viticulturalist

National success for Marches Wine Maker