Sandford Orchards Wins Four Golds at Taste of the West Awards

Family-owned and fiercely independent Sandford Orchards has recently garnered gold for all four of their ciders entered into the Taste of the West Awards. These are Devon Rosé, Devon Red, Rib Tickler and The General.

Said a delighted Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards: “We're thrilled the judges agreed these four ciders are truly gold medalists! 

"They represent a broad spectrum of ciders from our flagship session cider, Devon Red to The General from our vintage range and our new blush cider, Devon Rosé. 

"Although each one is quite different in style and appeal, they all have one thing in common. They are all top notch authentic ciders, lovingly created from apples grown and pressed in Devon, and these awards recognise that.” 

The General (ABV 8.4%) is the Imperial Stout of Sandford Orchards' vintage range. This super rich cider is bold and satisfying with the flavours of Seville orange, plum and baked apple. It is rich and rewarding with a long finish and is a superb complement to gamey meats or a fully-laden Sunday roast.

Devon Rosé Cider (ABV 4%) is an elegantly clean and fresh rosé cider, bursting with the fruitiness of Pinot Noir red wine grapes. It is a delicious, medium sweet cider made from Browns, Katja and Jane apple varieties which are fermented with grape skins to give the cider a fabulous depth of flavour and a beautiful blush colouring. It can be enjoyed on its own or as the ideal accompaniment for a goat cheese tart or Devon high tea.

Devon Red (ABV 4.5%) is a naturally tasty and utterly delicious, fresh apple cider made from apples grown and pressed in Devon. Devon Red is Sandford Orchards' famous session cider.

Rib Tickler (ABV 5%) was originally crafted with players from the Exeter Chiefs as part of an initiative with The Rugby Players Association to raise money for charity. That legacy continues, as every bottle or pint sold raises money for The Wooden Spoon children's rugby charity. Rib Tickler has rich aromas of honey and baked apple, ripe and buttery on the palate, with a moreish apple skin flavour, balanced with a crisp, natural acidity.

The Taste of the West Awards programme has been promoting and supporting the South West food and drink industry for over 30 years. It has grown to become the most prestigious food and drink awards programme in the South West. Each year they work with around 350 food and drink producers who enter their South West food and drink products into their awards programme to be tried and tested by their panel of independent industry experts.

Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. The area has long been known as one of the most fertile parishes in all of Britain, both for its grazing and ability to grow apples. Crediton sits in the lee of the moors, so receives the right amount of rain and the right units of heat in summer.

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

The Ferry House Waterside Restaurant Celebrates Prestigious Hospitality Award

Scooping a prestigious 2AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence, the team at The Ferry House, are raising a toast to the achievement with a glass of Gin (made using grain grown on their family farm). This significant award places the Isle of Sheppey restaurant among one of only 21 restaurants in Kent to have a 2AA Rosette. 

The award represents another milestone in over 20 years of ownership by local third generation farming family, the Burdens, who have taken the venue from humble country pub origins, to a rustically-refined country restaurant, boutique hotel and wedding venue in a beautiful wetland hideaway beside the Swale estuary. 

With a long-standing family heritage of food cultivation, produce for the menu is cropped from the 1.5 acre Kitchen Garden, alongside salt marsh-grazed beef, wild game and foraged produce from the shoreline and Harty estate.  

AA inspector Salvatore Scotti described the dining experience as “one of the highlights of my stay, with great pride taken in quality produce from the estate and vegetable garden. The hands-on team showed wonderful hospitality from making my reservation, to the time it came to leave.” 

Also praised was the experience from the luxury hotel rooms. “The rooms are filled with coordinated style, elegance, comfort and quality. The bathroom displayed clear sparkle!” 

Victoria Burden co-owns The Ferry House alongside her husband, Alex. She described the emotion of receiving the award; “Obviously, we're beyond thrilled! The report highlighted everything that's important to us, the quality of our home grown produce, a relaxed dining experience and warm and friendly service.”  

“Most of all we're happy for our team and proud of their contributions - every element of the AA report touches upon the role of someone role here. Hearing the cheers and seeing the emotion among the team when we gave them the news was a really great feeling. We are especially proud of and happy for Head Chef, James Pilcher.”  

“We are passionate about home growing produce that's not easily available, perhaps because it's perishable or is best handpicked to order. With our own kitchen garden we don't have that challenge, so guests can be introduced to dishes with unique, seasonal produce, that's exciting and creatively prepared, while being approachable and un-pretentious.” 

Recent dishes on the menu include wild Harty Estate duck wellington, pan-fried stone bass with foraged sea vegetables, 10oz salt-marsh grazed sirloin and charcoal-roasted golden beetroot, with pickled golden beets. 

As well as an à la carte Dinner Menu, diners can enjoy a sharing-style Small Plates Lunch Menu, Sunday roast lunches, a dedicated Vegan Menu available to pre-order, and a Children's Menu.  

Dining is available 7 days a week, Monday-Friday from 12pm–2.30pm and 6pm-8.30pm, Saturdays from 12pm-3.30pm and 6pm–8.30pm, and Sundays from 12pm-3.30pm and 6pm-7.30pm. Service times may vary occasionally around privately booked events, so please check The Ferry House website for specific opening times and to pre-book your table. 

The Ferry House, Harty Ferry Road, Harty, Kent, ME12 4BQ. 01795 510214 www.TheFerryHouse.co.uk | info@TheFerryHouseInn.co.uk | Instagram @TheFerryHouseHarty 

Fans of Timothy Taylor beer? You could be a winner!

Fans of Timothy Taylor's are being given the opportunity to win a selection of award-winning beers as the Keighley-based brewery celebrates recent medal success. 

Timothy Taylor's claimed four tasting awards at the International Beer Challenge 2023 (IBC) and also received the title of World's Best Can Design for its Hopical Storm beer at the World Beer Awards 2023.

The promotion will run across Timothy Taylor's social media accounts, inviting followers to name their top three Taylor's beers of all time to establish a fans' favourite table of gold, silver, and bronze medal places. Three entrants will be chosen at random by the brewing team to win samples of the IBC medal winners, Landlord (gold), Hopical Storm (silver), Landlord Dark (silver) and Boltmaker (bronze).

Announcing the campaign, Timothy Taylor's CEO Tim Dewey told That's Food and Drink: “Feedback is a vital component of the quality assurance process here at Timothy Taylor's and we are always very  keen to hear what people think about our beers. 

"To receive four medals from the IBC is great recognition for the hard work and dedication that goes into brewing Timothy Taylor's beers and the team, led by head brewer Andy Leman, should be justifiably proud of their achievements.

“Our beers have some of the most loyal and passionate fans you could ever wish for, so the IBC medals are a chance for us to say thank you and invite them to share in our success. The challenge is now on to identify the gold, silver, and bronze medal positions in our fans' favourite competition, and we are looking forward to seeing which Timothy Taylor's beers reach the top of our poll.”

The International Beer Challenge aims to reward and promote excellent beers from all over the world  and regularly attracts entries from in excess of 40 countries, with a panel of experienced judges tasting beers across over 80 different style categories. 

Awards are also made for design and Timothy Taylor's received a gold medal for design and packaging for its Hopical Storm cans, making it a double celebration having been named World's Best Can Design at the World Beer Awards 2023.

“Hopical Storm was the first Timothy Taylor's beer to be available in a can,” Dewey went on to explain “and to win a taste medal and two of the highest accolades for its design rounds off an excellent launch year. The development of Hopical Storm was a great example of building and investing in quality, premium brands for the future, a process that involves everyone at the brewery, and our marketing team is also to be congratulated for its work on creating the award-winning brand identity.”

The mandarin, mango, and passion fruit of Hopical Storm unleashes a tropical cyclone of refreshment that strikes thirst hard. It's a characterful twist on the tradition associated with Timothy Taylor's and the can design needed to reflect this new approach for a brewery that was established in 1858. The attention to detail on the can design combines the vibrant, tropical colour and a silver lightning strike, with the depiction of the famous Timothy Taylor's barley sheaf also updated to show it being buffeted by a strong wind to create the perfect Hopical Storm.

To find your nearest pub serving Timothy Taylor's award-winning ales, visit the brewery's interactive Pint Finder map https://www.timothytaylor.co.uk/pint-finder. Or if you'd like some beers delivered to your house, with free delivery on all orders, visit Timothy Taylor's webshop https://www.timothytaylorshop.co.uk.

 To take part in the Timothy Taylor's fans' favourite competition please head to the brewery's Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, or LinkedIn social media channels from today, 9th October to 13th October 2023. 

Competition entries will also be accepted by emailing tim@timtaylors.co.uk with your top three Timothy Taylor's beers. There are three prizes to be won, with full details and terms and conditions at https://www.timothytaylor.co.uk/news/customers-given-chance-share-award-success.

That's Food and Drink thinks Timothy Taylor's beers and ales are ideal for laying down for the Christmas season.

Timothy Taylor's Brewery Receives Two Top Awards for Can Design

Timothy Taylor's Hopical Storm, a 4% triple-hopped session pale ale, was recently launched in cans to provide an additional packaging format that suited the brand and widened the appeal and availability to a younger, legal drinking-age audience.

Announcing the awards, Timothy Taylor's CEO Tim Dewey said “Having successfully launched Hopical Storm to pubs and restaurants in kegs, we realised cans were a logical extension to our range. 

"Not only would they provide an option for venues without cellar space or rate of sale required for serving draught beers, but would also enable customers to enjoy this refreshing triple-hopped pale ale away from bars, wherever they are and whatever the occasion.”

The Hopical Storm 440ml aluminium cans feature distinctive orange branding, characterising the burst of fruit aroma and flavours of the beer, with a cut-out silver lightning flash symbolising Hopical Storm's ability to strike thirst. 

The multi award-winning design was developed by Springetts Brand Design in conjunction with the Timothy Taylor's in-house marketing team of Jane Jenkins and Scott Cameron and the can labels printed by Reflex Label Plus, who used their expertise to include tactile varnishing, lending to an enhanced ergonomic feel, too.

“Timothy Taylor's is an independent business fully committed to brewing quality beers” added Dewey. 

“And the mandarin, mango, and passion fruit of Hopical Storm unleashes a tropical cyclone of refreshment that strikes your thirst. It's a characterful twist on the tradition associated with Timothy Taylor's and the can design needed to reflect this new approach for a brewery that was established back in 1858, 165 years ago.

"The attention to detail combines the vibrant, tropical colour and the lightning strike, with the depiction of the famous Timothy Taylor's barley sheaf also updated to show it being buffeted by a strong wind to create the perfect Hopical Storm.

“At 4% ABV Hopical Storm is more accessible than some higher ABV beers in the IPA category and has gained widespread distribution and positive tasting reviews. 

"For the can to now be recognised by the International Beer Challenge and receiving the accolade of World's Best Can Design at the World Beer Awards is the crowning glory and ultimate accolade for everybody who has worked so hard on development of the beer and how it is presented.”

Hopical Storm is brewed using five UK-grown hops in three stages of hopping, Cascade and Whitbread Goldings in the copper, Cascade and Chinook at the hop back stage, then dry-hopped with Jester and Ernest. 

Combined with Timothy Taylor's natural Knowle Spring water, fine barley malts and the unique Taylor's Taste yeast to create the tropical storm of flavour and aroma. Hopical Storm is notable for its pale golden appearance and clarity and is vegan-friendly, wearing the distinctive Vegan Trademark and certified by The Vegan Society.

Timothy Taylor's Hopical Storm was also recognised with a silver medal in the taste category at the International Beer Challenge.

The can has secured listings in selected Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Booths, and Waitrose stores and has had a full calendar of marketing activity over the summer including print and digital advertising. It also had presence at events including BrewLDN, the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, and as one of the brands poured by Timothy Taylor's as the official beer partner of CarFest, where the award-winning cans were also enjoyed across all the festival's bars.

https://www.timothytaylor.co.uk

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Introducing the New 'Sandridge Barton' Collection - First Wine to Be Released Wins Master Medal at the Global Sparkling Masters 2023

Top English wine producer, Sandridge Barton, is pleased and delighted to unveil its highly anticipated premium range, under the 'Sandridge Barton' label. Known for its commitment to producing exceptional English wines, Sandridge Barton, the home of Sharpham Wine, has introduced the first wines under the label of its new location near Stoke Gabriel, which is in South Devon. 

The first wine in the collection to be released, Sandridge Barton 'Blanc de Noir', was recently recognised as one of the best Sparkling wines in the whole world at the Global Sparkling Masters 2023 after being awarded a Master Medal. 

An award which is only given to wines which are an outstanding example of its type, showing impeccable winemaking. It must demonstrate a wonderful texture, a perfect balance and a broad range of delicious, persistent flavours to the panel of expert judges, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers.

Duncan Schwab, CEO and Head Winemaker at Sandridge Barton, said: “This bottling run is part of our Sandridge Barton range, for wines we firmly believe are truly unique. 

"Sandridge Barton 'Blanc de Noir' is the first to be released and is made with Pinot Noir fruit harvested in 2020 from our vineyards overlooking the river Dart in South Devon. It's a cracking wine and we are extremely proud to receive a Master Medal and are delighted to introduce it to our range of English wines, which has now grown to over 15 wines.”

At this competition, judges sought out the very best Sparkling wines that were on the market, judging them blind with no knowledge as to their origin. The contest was open to any sparkling or semi-sparkling wine made anywhere in the whole world. 

The judges tasted 230 entries from 14 different countries, with seven master medalists in total, including three from Champagne, two from Asti, one from California and one from Sandridge Barton in Devon.

Sandridge Barton 'Blanc de Noir' is priced at £45. Of a golden colour, inviting rich nose with good autolysis, clean fresh fruit with a lime, gooseberry and raspberry palate and ripe balanced finish. 

This is not the only success for Sandridge Barton this month, the WineGB Awards results were announced last week and the Devon-based winery was awarded seven medals, including a Gold medal for the Sandridge Barton Pinot Noir 2020, four silvers and two bronze medals, too.

Over the course of the summer, Sandridge Barton will add three more wines to its 'Sandridge Barton' label range. A Bacchus, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, all of which are still wines will join the 'Blanc de Noir'. Bottles will vary in price and will be available to buy from Sandridge Barton, from their cellar door and through their website. 

With over 40 years of producing award-winning English wines, previously under the Sharpham Wine brand, Sandridge Barton has continued to be at the forefront of crafting exceptional wines that embody the unique marriage of climate, soil and grape varieties in this region of England.

The Global Sparkling Masters took place in London on 10 May. It is one of the 27 Global Wine Masters competitions taking place in 2023, run by industry-leading publication the drinks business.

For more information please visit sandridgebarton.com or to stay up to date like/follow Sandridge Barton Wines on Facebook, Sandridge_Barton on Instagram and @SharphamWines on Twitter.