News

25 July 2008: Bothy Vineyard Wins National Trophy

Picture: Richard and Sian Liwicki with their Trophy and certificates on the Terrace at the House of Lords on 22 July.

An Oxfordshire Vineyard has made national news by snatching a Trophy at the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition. Sian and Richard Liwicki received their prize from Lord Montagu of Beaulieu at the House of Lords on Tuesday 22 July in front of an audience that included 8 Masters of Wine and the likes of other top names such as RidgeView, Nyetimber and Camel Valley vineyards.

Bothy Vineyard, Oxford’s closest vineyard, submitted just two wines into the competition in July and they both won silver awards. This was no surprise but when their new wine The Paradox 2007 took the Berwick Trophy, this was a first for this medium sized, long established vineyard.

Richard Liwicki, winemaker and tender of vines said, “Many of our customers are local and they have recognised the quality of our wines and supported us over the years. However, winning a trophy has definitely put us on the national map.

“The Paradox came about because the very heavy summer rains of 2007 caused some of our vines to set tiny, seedless berries which, paradoxically, ripened beautifully to produce an intense juice, full of sugar and flavour.”

Bothy Vineyard produced only 4,000 bottles of wine in 2007 due to the extraordinarily wet summer and already over two thirds of its stocks have been sold. The owners are hoping that this summer will be kinder and that production will return to normal levels of around 6,000 bottles a year. In 2002, 2000 new vines were planted and these are just beginning to bear fruit.

Sian Liwicki, who also works for the UK Vineyard Association, said, ”Bothy is a “boutique” vineyard, developed through our passion for wine. We concentrate on quality and value, and sell most of wines through our shop in Frilford Heath and through local networks. There may be big increase interest in our wines now that we have attracted the national press, but we will continue to give our local friends and regular customers top priority”.

Besides the Bothy shop which opens on Fridays and Saturdays or by appointment, Bothy Wines can be bought at Added Ingredients in Abingdon and the Appleton Shop. Their Oxford Dry can also be tasted at the White Hart in Fyfield and the Charwell Boathouse, where it is one of the restaurant’s best sellers.

Bothy Vineyard is 30 years old this year and is therefore Oxfordshire’s oldest, commercial vineyard. Production is not high from old vines, but the quality is superb – Bothy wines regularly win the regional top wine trophies. All the wine is produce d on site, from our own grapes and is made with great attention to detail.

Most of the wine produced is white, but this year a Rose was produced for the first time. The Paradox is a medium white wine, with outstanding flavours. Early picking ensured good balancing acidity. Nectarines and a hint of dill seed on the nose giving way to peaches and cream on the palette. Only 1,218 bottles of this extraordinary wine have been produced.

Bothy Vineyard also runs tours for groups of 12 –30. For more information on all of the above visit www.bothyvineyard.co.uk.

Contact: Sian Liwicki, Bothy Vineyard, Frilford Heath, Oxon OX13 6QW. 01865 390067.