It was one of the busiest week's of the wine trade last week but the Bancroft team worked it with reputable enthusiasm alongside 12 of our esteemed producers who flew in from around the globe to present their wines to the trade.
It was a great show, we were delighted to see so many of you there and receive all your positive comments about our wines. It keeps us happy knowing that we're doing a good job and that what we have on our books continues to surprise and thrill.
In attendence were the following:
The very personable, award winning wine-maker Arnaud from Château Viranel in the Languedoc kept us in high spirits with his tales from the winery. He also explained to us the reasoning behind the design of his 'Aromes Sauvages' bottle which garnered some interesting comment amongst our visitors - especially on twitter. He tells us that the rabbits and wild boar who roam the vineyard where the Alicante Bouschet grows often fight it out between each other for any fallen grapes - such sweet and tasty grapes! To see who would win the fight one day the cheeky brothers Nicolas and Arnaud threw a couple into the air watching the animals play survival of the fittest to get to them - the rabbit was the winner - jumping on the boar's back where the grape landed. The rest is history. Below is our very own James Wainscott modelling the label that goes with the story (the wine's not half bad either - but don't just trust our word... give it a go!).
Schild Estate from the Barossa held the fort more visually than in person - being based out in the Barossa they have a fairly understandable reason not to join us for every event we have going, minimising their carbon footprint, but providing us with colour and class through the bottle and their new labels - just one muse for our 2014 stand design and our new brochures too.
Ivica from his eponymous Matosevic winery in the heart-shaped peninsula of Istria on Croatia kept us in good spirits. As president of the Winemakers Association of Croatia he was kept very busy at the stand talking to a wide and varied audience - some of whom had never tried Croatian wines before - ones to watch - you heard it here first!
Soledad from Bodega Luigi Bosca in Argentina showed a wide, rich range of Mendoza's oldest family winery - with Finca la Linda, Luigi Bosca, and the more premium Gala selections, she ensured there was something there to please at every price point.
We were delighted to be joined by husband and wife wine-making duo Tammy and Alex Nel from Cederberg Estate in South Africa, proudly showing off their wines that no-body knows better than them (except perhaps David Nieuwoudt). Particular interest was shown in the unusual Bukettrabe and their other recently award winning reds and whites, The Bowline, Ghost Corner and the V generations series - a selection of which were shown off again the next night at Handford Wines' South African Wine Icon's tasting hosted by Greg Sherwood MW with notable journalists such as Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke, Tim Atkin and Steven Spurrier in attendance.
Luis and Jose from Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza were proffering their fine wines from Rioja Alavesa - once dubbed the Latour of Rioja by Robert Parker who they would get to meet just two days later (blog post on this *coming soon*). Their more affordable Erre Punto Blanco white Rioja offered something a little more unusual alongside their well-reputed reds.
Export Iberia (Spain) was represented by Shane Fazackerely with a wide range of more unusual north-eastern Spain's more indigenous grapes such as their wondrous Tempestad Godello, affordable Las Colinas del Ebro Garnacha Blanco and Garnacha Tinto as well as a Diluvio Albarino, Verdejo and the super premium Neo 2010.
Catherine Leuseur from Domaine Billaud Simon in Chablis let her wines speak for themselves - such is the quality - they really need no introduction. She showcased the real top end of what she has in the form of Chablis Cuvée Tête d’Or 2012, Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons 2012, Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu: 2010, Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2011, Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu Vielles Vignes: 2011, Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2008, Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2009, Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2012 12 £41.30, Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots Vielles Vignes 2012 - quite the superior collection!
Marjan Simcic (Slovenia) wowed the press and visitors alike showing off his Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Reserve 2009, Sauvignon Selekcija 2009, Chardonnay Selekcija Igor Sotric 2011, Pinot Noir Reserve 2010 and his stunning, terroir driven Opoka Wines (Chardonnay, Ribolla and Sauvignon Blanc) - made from marl and sandstone soils. Seriously unique, seriously impressive.
Bodegas Perez Pascuas (Rioja) were well represented by our very own Juan de la Vega - impressing visitors with a multi-layered, beautifully textured range of wines.
Elena Sanchez from Bodgeas Altanza showed off her classy range of Rioja including the premium, multi-award winning, much coveted Dali and Gaudi range - inspired by the artists themselves - something not just shown on the labels but in the bottles too. Is wine indeed an art?
Caruso & Minini stole the show on the stand in many ways offering our interested visitors a fresh take on Sicily with some stunning table wines and a couple of sticky desert wines too. Giovanna Caruso who presented the wines is from the fourth generation of the family, based in Marsala.
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| A great show - cheers! |
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| Bancroft's Mike Unsworth & Jilly Kinnear |
In attendence were the following:
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| Winemaker Arnaud from Chateau Viranel |
Schild Estate from the Barossa held the fort more visually than in person - being based out in the Barossa they have a fairly understandable reason not to join us for every event we have going, minimising their carbon footprint, but providing us with colour and class through the bottle and their new labels - just one muse for our 2014 stand design and our new brochures too.
Ivica from his eponymous Matosevic winery in the heart-shaped peninsula of Istria on Croatia kept us in good spirits. As president of the Winemakers Association of Croatia he was kept very busy at the stand talking to a wide and varied audience - some of whom had never tried Croatian wines before - ones to watch - you heard it here first!
Soledad from Bodega Luigi Bosca in Argentina showed a wide, rich range of Mendoza's oldest family winery - with Finca la Linda, Luigi Bosca, and the more premium Gala selections, she ensured there was something there to please at every price point.
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| Ivica (pensive), Bancroft's James and Soledad from Luigi Bosca |
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| Bancroft's Andy Tinker Taylor and Rob Allen |
Export Iberia (Spain) was represented by Shane Fazackerely with a wide range of more unusual north-eastern Spain's more indigenous grapes such as their wondrous Tempestad Godello, affordable Las Colinas del Ebro Garnacha Blanco and Garnacha Tinto as well as a Diluvio Albarino, Verdejo and the super premium Neo 2010.
Catherine Leuseur from Domaine Billaud Simon in Chablis let her wines speak for themselves - such is the quality - they really need no introduction. She showcased the real top end of what she has in the form of Chablis Cuvée Tête d’Or 2012, Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons 2012, Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu: 2010, Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2011, Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu Vielles Vignes: 2011, Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2008, Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2009, Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2012 12 £41.30, Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots Vielles Vignes 2012 - quite the superior collection!
Marjan Simcic (Slovenia) wowed the press and visitors alike showing off his Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Reserve 2009, Sauvignon Selekcija 2009, Chardonnay Selekcija Igor Sotric 2011, Pinot Noir Reserve 2010 and his stunning, terroir driven Opoka Wines (Chardonnay, Ribolla and Sauvignon Blanc) - made from marl and sandstone soils. Seriously unique, seriously impressive.
Bodegas Perez Pascuas (Rioja) were well represented by our very own Juan de la Vega - impressing visitors with a multi-layered, beautifully textured range of wines.
Elena Sanchez from Bodgeas Altanza showed off her classy range of Rioja including the premium, multi-award winning, much coveted Dali and Gaudi range - inspired by the artists themselves - something not just shown on the labels but in the bottles too. Is wine indeed an art?
Thank you again for coming to see us and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
Best wishes,
The Bancroft Team
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