English wine has been coming up trumps of late, particularly the sparkling varieties, which have been winning awards left, right and centre. If you want to find out more, get involved with English Wine Week (28 May-5 June), a national campaign to celebrate the quality and flavour of English wines and their important links with regional foods.
Throughout the week you can visit the vineyards, taste the wines and meet the producers. Here are a few places celebrating in style.
Visit Camel Valley Vineyard on 2 June for its Fizzin' Fish Chilli Barbeque. The evening will start at 7pm with a guided tour of the vineyard, followed by a chilli tasting session washed down with Camel Valley Cornwall Brut. Guests will be treated to a fish barbeque prepared by chef Nick Barclay along with wine tasting and a glass of Camel Valley Bacchus. Tickets at 25 per person can be booked on 01208 77959.
Camel Valley Vineyard, Nanstallon, Bodmin, Cornwall.
Leventhorpe Vineyard will be teaming up with local cheesemonger Cryer & Stott to do wine and cheese tastings at the vineyard throughout the week. Cryer & Stott will present a variety of unusual Yorkshire cheese such as Ruby Gold, which contains Wakefield rhubarb.
Leventhorpe Vineyard, Bullerthorpe Lane, Woodlesford, Leeds LS26 8AF.
Tel: 0113 288 9088.
Denbies Wine Estate is providing a week of traditional English fare in its Gallery restaurant alongside wine tastings. The menu will offer steak and ale pie, bangers and mash and bread and butter pudding.
Denbies Wine Estate, London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA.
Tel: 01306 876 616.
www.englishwineweek.com