THE Royal Agricultural University (RAU) launches its very own white wine, Cotswold Hills Dry White 2016, which has already won an international, prestigious and industry-recognised wine award.

The wine, which is 12 per cent alcohol, received a Bronze Award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2017, which receives entries from over 80 countries worldwide and is judged by a panel of wine experts.

The university took over a vineyard near Down Ampney last spring, with ripe grapes handpicked by students and transported to a winery near Shepton Mallet.

Susan McCraith, the master of wine, who has chaired the UK Wine Competition in the past and is a former RAU lecturer, has been instrumental in managing the wine project. 

She said: “I’m so pleased with our wine and the fact that it has won a prestigious award in our first vintage.

"It is dry, youthful, and zesty at this stage, with peachy fruit and a hint of blossom and tropical notes. Lovely balance of acidity. It will be perfect for summer.

"I’m proud of what the team has achieved. Tom Overbury and Tony Norris have worked hard to bring this project to fruition.”

The wine is available from the RAU shop – both on campus and online at shop.rac.ac.uk, with a launch held at the university’s tenth Grand Idea business competition awards evening last week.

Read more at source: Wilts And Gloucestershire Standard