World In A Glass: Knutsford Wine Fair
WORDS: Ange Seddon
It is hard to believe it has been a whole year since my very first World In A Glass column. It’s been an exciting year and a huge learning curve, and I have enjoyed every minute. Thank you for coming along on my wine journey, here’s to the next year.
So, to celebrate, I went along to the inaugural Knutsford Wine Fair. Initially the thought of attending a wine fair can be a little scary, but this lovely event is an excellent place to start or enhance your journey into discovering new and exciting wines. Local wine fairs like this tend to be smaller and less intimidating. There are a limited number of stands; here there were 8 carrying 2-4 wines each, so you are not overwhelmed by choice. But what you do get is an opportunity to support smaller producers and growers and get to taste wines with a difference, wines that you won't find on the supermarket shelves.
The majority of the stands were English wines. It's an exciting time for wines in the UK, their quality and variety are increasing year on year. When you buy from these smaller producers, you have wines from off the beaten track, not the same generic brands that everyone else has. Making wines in the UK has its challenges, not least because of our changeable weather. Production of these wines are smaller; with economies of scale, this makes them a little more expensive than your regular Tesco bottle. But what you are getting is something special and worth every penny in my book. That and having had the chance to try it beforehand rather than buying blind.
I really enjoyed it and learned a lot and may have come away with a bottle or two. The owners and producers are passionate about their wines and more than happy to answer all my questions. We tasted wines from Cheshire, Leicestershire, Hastings, Bethnal Green, Crouch Valley in Essex, as well as the Languedoc region in southern France. A lot of these wines are low intervention, organic, made protecting their biodiversity, using ancient as well as modern techniques. Always allowing the unique terroirs to shine.
So, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to give wine fairs a try. The lovely people at the Knutsford Wine Fair were bowled over by the success of this event and plan to do two per year. The food was provided by Linden Stores Knutsford who had a pop-up kitchen and bar serving gorgeous snacks and small plates, which made it a lovely afternoon. The whole atmosphere was buzzing.
So here are my hints and tips for attending wine fairs garnered from my experienced wine friends.
Use the spittoon. I know the thought of spitting out wine may sound inelegant (or a waste) but when you are trying several wines, it's essential.
Alternate tasting reds and whites, so you don’t get palate fatigue.
Ask for recommendations from other tasters and table hosts, what they enjoyed and what surprised them.
When chatting to the exhibitors, move to the side of the table if it’s busy so that you don’t block the other guests wanting to taste.
Do not be afraid of asking questions. I guarantee they will be more than happy to chat; like I said, they are experts and passionate about their craft.
Don’t wear strong fragrances, it impacts your ability to smell and taste the wine properly (and those around you).
Recommendations
My wine of the day was from The Heretics called ‘The Cut’, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay. While it is oaked, the fruit isn’t lost. It is perfectly balanced and full of character. Beautifully smooth and tastes as good, if not better, than some top-end Burgundies. It is true English wine taken to the next level, made with passion and pride.
£47 available from wearetheheretics.com
I also enjoyed Vines of Cheshire’s Sparkling Brut. This traditional method sparkling white wine is made from Seyval blanc grapes and was delicious. Great acidity, citrusy with lovely buttery brioche notes. This is homegrown in Cheshire and does the county proud.
£35 available from vinesofcheshire.co.uk
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