A Lancashire pub has launched the first all-English wine list in the UK.
The Calf’s Head in Worston near Clitheroe, northwest England, sourced wines from Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Dorset for its 16-strong all-English list, which went on sale in April.
Owner Chris Medley, who travelled the length of the country to find the wines, believes that promoting English wines will eventually help the economy.
‘I can’t believe no one has been bold enough to present an all-English wine list before. There’s no need to import things we can produce in this country’, he said.
When visiting vineyards across the country, Medley was surprised and impressed by the quality he found.
‘I was amazed at the great deal of good quality of wine available in England’.
‘I remember the days when English wine was just good enough to pour down the drain but things have improved dramatically’, Medley said.
So much so in fact, that the pub’s manager, Patrick O’Reilly, has sold six months worth of stock of some wines in six weeks.
The best sellers include Biddenden Vineyards Ortega 2008 from Kent and West Sussex-based Bolney Wine Estate Pinot Grigio 2009, which is ‘flying out’.
‘People want to support English vineyards and are astounded by the quality available’, O’Reilly said.
Julia Trustram Eve, of the English Wine Producers Association, said,
‘It is important to highlight English wine and the great quality and variety we are producing in this country, which tastes fantastic with our seasonal produce’.
Five additional wines have been added to the list this week to coincide with English Wine Week, which runs until Sunday.
Written by Lucy Shaw
