Village co-operative’s first sparkling wine wins top industry accolade

Corks have been popping at Dalwood after the village’s home-grown wine received a top industry accolade.

With its very first vintage, the team that has developed and runs Dalwood Vineyard has won a bronze medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2015 for its sparkling 2013 Brut.

The wine, currently selling ‘like hot cakes’ for £23 a bottle at the village’s community shop and the local Tuckers Arms, is the result of a project begun in 2009.

A group of villagers – David Dower, John Gostling, Les White, Jo Huskins and husband Mike, and Mick Oliver, formed a co-operative to plant vines on around three acres of land.

Said Mr Gostling: “It takes several years of hard work and patience for a vineyard to produce its first crop and to see it do so well in an international competition is a delight for us all. We are running the vineyard alongside our ‘day jobs’, but our main ambition all along has been to produce a wine we can be proud of.

“Our 2013 vintage Brut is a fresh, dry sparkling wine made by traditional methods. The whole run was 1,700 bottles and they are selling well. Thanks are due to our winemaker, Steve Brooksbank, of Brooksbank Barrs, and also Langham Winery for their help.

“The 2014 crop produced our second wine, which is a still dry white, a blend of seyval blanc, solaris and pinot noir grapes and that is ready very soon.”

Later in the year the vineyard team and the Tuckers Arms will be offering “Vineyard Lunches”, a chance to sample the wines, eat local food and then walk up to the vineyard with one of the owners.

Anyone interested should email david@c2c-research.co.uk