English Singletons Give Home-Grown Wine the Thumbs Up

Grape Vine Social reports that 7 in 10 guests have never tasted English wine before. Tasting a range of 6 wines from Chapel Down, 64% of guests rated the wines they tasted as being very good, and 7 in 10 (68%) said they would consider buying English wine instead of their usual bottle of imported wine.

Grape Vine Social hopes its wine tasting events will encourage professionals in their 20s and 30s who enjoy a drop of wine to venture beyond the well known brands such as Hardys and Jacobs Creek, and experiment with their taste buds. “There are so many wines and such little information, many of us enjoy a good drop of wine, but don’t have the time or inclination to find out more just get bewildered by the range. Our events are aimed at those who don’t necessarily know much about wine, but enjoy drinking it in a social setting and wouldn’t mind finding out more in a fun, relaxed environment” explains Donna of Grape Vine Social.

With wine consumption in the UK predicted to top £6bn by 2008, the UK is the second biggest wine consumer in the world. However, the wine world still carries with it a certain snobbery that wards off many social wine drinkers from learning more. “ We don’t expect our guests to be able to smell raspberries, bubblegum and tobacco from the word go. Just introduce them to wines they may otherwise never taste and let them make up their own minds.”

Grape Vine Social entertains a crowd of 50 singletons on a weekly basis, with guests blind tasting 6 wines while meeting 6 dates; a refreshing alternative to the well trodden speed dating model.

Grape Vine Social will be showcasing English wine until May, concluding with a special St Georges Day Sunday Wine Tasting event in conjunction with the English Wine Producers. Julia Trustram-Eve from the English Wine Producers says “this is a fantastic and innovative way to raise awareness of English wines among this audience.”