COUNTDOWN TO ENGLISH WINE FESTIVAL

The countdown is underway for the 32nd English Wine and Regional Food Festival - the UK's longest running event of its kind.

Last year the festival made a popular move back to its roots, at the English Wine Centre in Alfriston, and this year's event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 2nd and 3rd.

As well as showcasing the country's top English wines, the festival weekend will be packed with a host of attractions, including several that were introduced for the first time last year
and some new ones for 2006.

Last year organiser Steve Mitchell launched a bubby stand and a stall selling Sussex churdles, historic 17th century pies baked in the shape of bishops' mitres. Steve hit national headlines when he tracked down an old recipe and recreated the churdle for the Radio 4 programme Who Ate All The Pies, in which poet Ian Mcmillan went in search of the lost churdle. The programme whetted Steve's appetite for the historic pies and he has been making them at the English Wine Centre ever since.

New this year is the Festival Reserve, a special hospitality package aimed at corporate entertainers or wine lovers who want to treat themselves to an extra special day out. The package, which costs £100 for two people, includes a staffed marquee throughout the day, lunch in the marquee or on a reserved section of the lawn and afternoon tea.

Vineyards taking part in this year's festival include Battle, Biddenden, Breaky Bottom, Carter's, Plumpton College, Ridgeview, Sandhurst, Iron Railway, English Wnes Group, Hidden Spring, Kemps and Warnham Vale. They will be joined by a host of other specialist food and drink producers.

In addition to the panel of wine experts who will judge the competition for the best wines of the show, members of the public will be invited to submit their views. Voting forms will be
available for visitors to nominate their favourite wines and their votes will produce a best in class award and go towards the overall wine of the show. Winners will be announced on the
Sunday afternoon.

Steve Mitchell said: "We received many favourable comments when the festival returned to the wine centre last year and, once again, it's a very exciting time for us hosting the UK's longest running wine festival.  We'll also be having a hog roast and a live band providing a blend of cool blues and jazz to compliment our celebration of the joys of English wine."

When English Wine Centre owner and festival originator Christopher Ann first launched the event very few people knew about English wine, let alone had tasted it. Things have changed
enormously since those early days and England recently won ten medals in the International Wine & Spirit Competition, the second most medals of any country after Spain. It was one of the best results England has ever achieved in the prestigious international competition that attracts top wines from around the world.

Admission to the wine festival costs £13.50 on the day, or £10 in advance, and the price includes wine and food tastings, a souvenir glass and programme. Tickets for children, aged four to 15, cost £6.50.

For tickets and further information contact the English Wine Festival office on 01323 871123 or log onto www.englishwine.co.uk.

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For further information contact:
Jeannine Williamson

Steve Mitchell
Motcombe Media
Walton's Oak Barn
Tel: 01323 641078

Tel: 01323 871123