Sedlescombe English wine gets prime spot at the world’s longest wine bar.

Sedlescombe wine gets prime spot at the world’s longest wine bar!

When vineyard owner Roy Cook discovered an old 19th century text in Germany 30 years ago, little did he think that he and his wife Irma would this year be invited to bring their English wines to the “the longest wine bar in the world,” more officially known as the ‘Rheingauer Weinwoche’ (Rhinegau Wine Week) , which runs between 12th & 21st of August in Wiesbaden.

Thanks to the long standing twinning arrangement between Wiesbaden and Royal Tunbridge Wells, visitors to this annual wine festival will be able to judge for themselves the result of his discovery; Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard will, as guests of Wiesbaden, occupy a prime spot in front of the City Hall at the famous “wine bar,” which has for 35 years attracted thousands of visitors to over 100 vineyard stalls.

Roy Cook was teaching English in Karlsruhe when he came across a book dating from 1884 by a Dr Julius Nessler† describing an unusual wine making method, which the good doctor claimed improved body and helped to mellow acidity in white wines. Knowing that lack of body was one of the areas in which English wines were most often criticised, Roy decided to test and, if successful, adopt the method at his newly established organic vineyard at Sedlescombe in the South East of England. The technique involves a radical departure from conventional winemaking wisdom by adding 10-20% crushed de-stemmed grapes to the cuvée of pressed juice during fermentation of white wines: a practice unheard of in modern wineries where winemakers are, according to Cook, ‘too wary of creating excessive harsh tannins’, a fear which appears groundless when judged by his results using Nessler’s method.

“It is a great privilege and honour to be invited to this event.” says Roy “Irma and I started in the wine business because we were inspired by the Rhineland wine festivals during our days in Karlsruhe in the early 1980's; to be going back to Germany as the primary stand holder at such a prestigious event as the Reingauer Weinwoche and being made guest of honour at the inaugural dinner, means our wine career really has gone full circle!”

Michael Holman, Chairman of the Tunbridge Wells Twinning Association says “this will be a first for English vintners - never before has Wiesbaden hosted an organic vineyard from the UK. I am delighted that Sedlescombe Vineyard is taking the twinning stand in Wiesbaden and am sure the Roy and Irma Cook’s wines will be a huge success. “

Founded in 1979 by Roy Cook and his German born wife Irma – Sedlescombe Vineyard is England’s largest and oldest organic wine producer; last year, it moved to ‘premium organic’ status, and became the first English vineyard to produce wines to biodynamic standards and qualify to display the Demeter symbol on its labels. Roy Cook’s first biodynamic wine - First Release, a dry white blend of Bachus, Rivaner and Solaris grapes has, despite its youth, already received excellent reviews and most recently gained a bronze medal at the English Wine of the Year competition

†Die Bereitung, Pflege und Untersuchung des Weines" von Dr Julius Nessler. Printed 1885 von Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart.

FOR MORE DETAILS /PICTURES/ORIGINAL 19th CENTURY TEXT/CONTACT;-

Roy Cook – mob: 07784 862 238 or +44 (0)1580 830 715

Email: roy.cook@englishorganicwine .co.uk

Web: www.EnglishOrganicWine.co.uk

Alternatively: Richard Widenka-mob: 07973 508 767 or +44 (0)1424 772 090

Email: widenka@omw.eclipse.co.uk