English wine week

We're half way through a week long celebration of English wines with English Wine Week in full swing.

Plenty of corks have been popping as the International Wine & Spirit Competition announce their results for English Wine in 2007, and the surprise is that it's no longer just the sparkling wines that are pulling in the awards.

This year, there were more entries from England than ever before and 26 wines were awarded medals ranging through traditionally bottle-fermented sparkling wines to a still wine from Nutbourne Vineyard and a rare dessert wine from Eglantine Vineyard as far north as Leicestershire.

Global warming has to have some advantages.

But seriously, wine production's not new to Britain. The Domesday Book of 1086 cites 38 vineyards and now, in 2007 there are some 400 wine producers active in the UK.

So if you're thinking of throwing a truly green celebration then get along to some events over this weekend and choose a delicious English wine for your party. Or if you prefer to go for organic and biodynamic wines then Vintage Roots offers a wide variety to choose from.