ENGLISH wine is on a sensational upward curve after 2018 was hailed the ‘Vintage of the Century’, perfect conditions doubling the grape yield and creating unprecedented ripeness. Why, even Champagne houses are snapping up land here after our native sparklers proved they can be their equal.
So what better way to celebrate this Brit boom than a glass or three at Manchester Food and Drink Festival’s Montann English Wine Bar, on site at the Festival Hub in Cathedral Gardens from launch day Thursday, September 26 until Sunday, October 6?
What’s more, Montann is a local company, based in Great Ancoats Street. Its founders, Jasmine Coleman and Helen Crompton, source grapes from central England vineyards with chalk-rich soils. The pair launched the brand in 2018 at the Royal Henley Regatta.
Their wines are the product of modern wine-making techniques with long established methods to ensure minimum interference with the natural process. The ones that will be available at MFDF (from 2015-2017 vintages) include:
Pinot Blanc Brut: Montann's bubbly. Clean and fresh with a lively palate and citrus finish, blossoming with a refreshing fizz.
Muller Thurgau: Crisp and fresh with aromas of mixed apple and lemon sherbet on the nose. A dry fruity charmer.
Pinot Noir: Soft redcurrants on the nose, light red berries on the palate, then a soft delicate finish.
Pinot Noir Blush: Ripe summer fruits and subtle hints of rose on the nose, lead to fresh cherries and redcurrants on the palate.
They will be joined by Montann’s range of still and sparkling water. Sourced over 35 metres below protected English terrain, the crystal-clear, mineral-rich water is filtered through layers of sandstone on its journey to the surface.
Jasmine Coleman told us: “It’s a real honour for us to be working with MFDF this year and to be sharing our love of English wines with the Festival. We use only the first press of the grape to ensure premium quality and first-class standards. This city is home territory for Montann. As we are two local ladies from Greater Manchester we have spent a lot of time in the hospitality sector here, we decided to take advantage of the expanding popularity of English wines to produce and develop our own brand.”
MFDF director Alexa Stratton-Powell said: “We can’t wait to showcase Montann Wines at the Festival and for the visitors to enjoy the range as much as we do. As the company expands further the Festival will provide a platform for them to spread the word about the high quality of English wines. The British wine industry is one of the fastest growing in the world and this year alone three million vines have been planted across the country, so we’re giving all our visitors the chance to taste just how good English wines are.”
Here’s the full line up for the 2019 Manchester Food and Drink Festival.