PRESS RELEASE – October 2006

Latest Champagne Technology Arrives in England

The first Coquard Champagne Press has arrived in England. Coquard ranks amongst its customers virtually every major grande marque Champagne house include Bollinger, Krug, Veuve Cliquot, Roderer and Lanson. The only other producers outside Champagne that have purchased this prestigious press are Montana in New Zealand, Bellavista Franciacorta in Italy and now RidgeView in England.

The timing for the new press is fantastic as RidgeView are experiencing their biggest harvests ever and with new vineyards coming on stream. The 2006 harvest benefited from a very dry spring helping during flowering and the great temperatures in summer have produced a bumper crop.

The new press is assisting RidgeView with their expansion plans. RidgeView are planning a five-fold production increase within the next 10 years to keep up with current demand. The press has been purchased with the assistance of funding from DEFRA.  RidgeView were awarded a Processing and Marketing Grant (PMG) from DEFRA and the EU to extend their facilities within the winery to enable the planned increase in production and to support other growers.

The Coquard press makers philosophy is that a wine is only as good as it’s grape juice Grapes for sparkling wine must be pressed very gently so only the best of the juice is captured with subtle and discrete aromas. The new press takes advantage of hydrolics and sloping plates to ensure that maximum clarity of the juice. Coquard achieved an award for innovation at VTEF (Champagne) in 2001 for there latest invention.

RidgeView is a family enterprise. Mike and Christine Roberts set up RidgeView in 1994. Son Simon shares the winemaking, his Australian born wife Mardi is responsible for Sales and Marketing and daughter Tamara is General Manager.  Since their first commercial release in the year 2000 RidgeView sparkling wines have had phenomenal success in International Competitions and much critical acclaim. The awards culminated in the ultimate accolade in 2005 when they won the Trophy for the Best Sparkling in the International Wine and Spirit Competition. This year their sparkling was the first and only English Wine on the menu for the Queens 80th Birthday lunch.

More electronic photos and details are available from:

Mardi Roberts - Sales & Marketing Manager:

RidgeView Wine Estate

Fragbarrow Lane, Ditchling Common, Sussex BN6 8TP

Tel: 0845 345 7292  Fax: 01444 230757   info@ridgeview.co.uk   www.ridgeview.co.uk