With the historic Qatar Goodwood Festival round the corner, The Wine Tipster looks back on the history of the festival as well as the stunning setting of the races.

The Goodwood Estate

The picturesque setting of Goodwood Racecourse is also home to Goodwood House, which is now restored to its former Regency glory; a motor circuit which has resounded to the roar of historic racing cars since 1998; a hotel and country club, aerodrome, golf club, organic farm and restaurants, and more. Covering 11,500 acres, the Goodwood Estate has a unique ambiance and air of understated glamour which has drawn people to it for three centuries of ownership by the Dukes of Richmond.

As a day out, it offers a great array of activities for all the family, but why not extend your visit and stay in The Goodwood Hotel? A stone’s throw from the cultural city of Chichester, The Goodwood Hotel offers responsible dining options from their fully sustainable farm, stunning leisure facilities, modern and beautiful rooms, and the chance to participate in the amazing activities on offer at the estate. Facilities are now open with safe distancing measures in place.

For hospitality, The Wine Tipster especially likes The Kennels – the modern central clubhouse for all of the Estate’s sporting and social members – and Farmer, Butcher, Chef, Goodwood’s onsite sustainable flagship restaurant. The unique collaboration of these three professions results in imaginative, well thought through and beautiful dishes which showcase the meat on offer and highlight the different cuts. As one of Europe’s only self-sustaining organic farms, customers will end up travelling further than the food!

Glorious Goodwood History

The Qatar Goodwood Festival – Glorious Goodwood – runs every year at the end of July to early August, with a range of top class racing taking place every day. The racecourse celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2002 and the occasion was marked by the publication of the Glorious Goodwood book and video. At the end of 2014, Goodwood Racecourse announced the biggest sponsorship deal ever in British racing involving a 10-year agreement with Qatar. The partnership, which commenced in 2015, resulted in over £2 million extra being invested into prize money for eight key races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival as well as a commitment to increase this year-on-year. Total prize money on offer for the week in 2019 came to approaching £5.6 million, with Qatar continuing to demonstrate passion and support for British racing.

The five days are filled with a number of historic races to enjoy, and a huge array of talented horses. Here are the featured races for each day of the meeting and The Glorious Five horses to watch in the 2020 festival:

Tuesday 28th July – Goodwood Cup Day

The Goodwood Cup, promoted to Group One status for the first time in 2017, is the highlight of the opening day and carries a prize fund of £500,000. First run in May of 1812, this is a British Champions Series featuring three+ year olds over two miles. The Goodwood Cup has been won by a long list of impressive and popular horses, often multiple times, including Yeats, who was without doubt one of the greatest stayers of the modern era with an unprecedented four Ascot Gold Cup triumphs to his name, and the Aidan O’Brien-trained champion was imperious in winning a second Goodwood Cup in 2008, having first triumphed in 2006.

Stradivarius won an unprecedented third consecutive title in 2019, and is one of 2020’s Glorious Five to watch. Will he make it four wins on the trot?

• 1.50pm Unibet Handicap 1m 1f 197y 4y+ £75,000
• 2.25pm Qatar Vintage Stakes (Group 2) 7f 2y £200,000
• 3.00pm Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2) 7f 3y+ £300,000
• 3.35pm Qatar Goodwood Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 2m 3y+ £500,000
• 4.10pm European Breeders Fund EBF Maiden 6f 2y c&g £25,000
• 4.45pm Chelsea Barracks Handicap (86-105) 5f 4y+ £30,000
• 5.15pm Unibet Fillies’ Handicap (76-95) 1m 3y+ f&m £25,000
• Day’s prize money £1,155,000

Wednesday 29th July – Sussex Stakes Day

The Group One Qatar Sussex Stakes has a prize fund of £1 million, guaranteeing its position as one of the most valuable mile races in the world. The Sussex Stakes was first run as a race for two-year-olds in 1841 and remained so for 37 years, during which it was uncontested on 25 occasions, with 14 walkovers. The unbeaten three-year-old Frankel created history in 2012 by becoming the first horse to win the Qatar Sussex Stakes twice. Starting at odds of 1-20, the hottest-ever favourite in the race’s long history, the amazing colt had little difficulty in going away from his closest rival Farhh by six lengths – a joint record winning distance. The Sussex Stakes has also been won by the French sensation Solow and Too Darn Hot.

Sir Gordon Richards, with eight victories, has been the most successful jockey in the Sussex Stakes history, enjoying his first win on Marconigram in 1928 and final one on Agitator in 1952. Richards, who was knighted in 1953, made the Sussex Stakes almost his own from 1946 through to 1952, winning the mile contest five times in seven runnings.

Goodwood has played host to some equally impressive horses, jockeys and races since then, and this year is looking forward to seeing how two of The Glorious Five fare in The Qatar Sussex Stakes: Kameko and Siskin.

• 1.50pm Unibet Goodwood Handicap (0-105) 2m 4f 134y 3y+ £50,000
• 2.25pm Unibet Handicap (0-105) 1m 3f 218y 3y £75,000
• 3.00pm Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) 5f 2y £75,000
• 3.35pm Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (BCS) 1m 3y+ £1,000,000
• 4.10pm Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Race 5f 2y £50,000
• 4.45pm British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (86-105) 1m 1f 197y 3y+ f&m £30,000
• 5.20pm Qatar International Stakes for Purebred Arabians (Group 1 PA) 1m 4y+ £400,000
• 5.55pm New & Lingwood Handicap (76-95) 7f 3y+ £25,000
• Day’s prize money £1,705,000

Thursday 30th July – Ladies’ Day

The most glamorous day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is Ladies’ Day, where horseracing and fashion collide. The ladies’ amateur jockey race, the Magnolia Cup, will get the day off to an impressive start featuring 12 fearless women, and has previously        supported charities dedicated to helping women and children.

The prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes is the highlight of the eight-race card, worth £600,000. It was first run in 1840 and was named in recognition of the friendship between the fifth Duke of Richmond and the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange and Nassau. Previous winners include Ouija Board, Midday and Minding.

This year, Deirdre is one of The Glorious Five to watch in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

• 1.15pm Magnolia Cup in Support of Wellbeing of Women 5f 110y – charity race
• 1.50pm Unibet Handicap 1m 1f 197y 3y £75,000
• 2.25pm Gordon Stakes (Group 3) 1m 3f 218y 3y £175,000
• 3.00pm Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2) 6f 2y c&g £200,000
• 3.35pm Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) 1m 1f 197y 3y+ f&m £600,000
• 4.10pm Telegraph Nursery 7f 2y £25,000
• 4.45pm Markel Insurance British EBF Fillies’ Maiden 7f 2y f £25,000
• 5.20pm Tatler Handicap (76-95) 5f 3y £25,000
• Day’s prize money £1,125,000

Friday 31st July – King George Day

The £300,000 Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes is one of the highlights of the year – taken in 2019 by the hugely progressive Battaash. Battaash is one of The Glorious Five to watch in this year’s race.

A showcase for raw speed, this prestigious sprint was introduced in 1911 to mark the previous year’s succession of King George V to the British throne. The G2 King George Qatar Stakes is Goodwood’s top sprint and in 2002 was named the King George 200th Anniversary Stakes to celebrate 200 years of racing at Goodwood.

• 1.50pm Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3) 7f 3y+ f&m £80,00
• 2.25pm Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3) 1m 3y £100,000
• 3.00pm Unibet Golden Mile Handicap 1m 3y+ £150,000
• 3.35pm King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) 5f 3y+ £300,000
• 4.10pm Unibet Nursery 6f 2y £25,000
• 4.40pm L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes (Group 3) 1m 3f 218y 4y+ £100,000
• 5.15pm Goodwood Handicap (71-90) 1m 3f 44y 3y £25,000
• Day’s prize money £780,000

Saturday 1st August – Unibet Stewards Cup Day

The £250,000 Unibet Stewards’ Cup takes centre stage for the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Previous winners of this iconic sprint include Lochsong, Dancing Star and 2019’s winner Khaadem. The six-furlong cavalry charge of the Unibet Stewards Cup is a sight to behold, with over 20 sprinters thundering down the Goodwood straight. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to this hugely competitive race on the final day of the festival.

The first official staging of the Stewards’ Cup took place in 1840, but the name actually dates back to 1834 when the senior of the two stewards officiating at Goodwood awarded a cup worth about £100 to any race of his choosing. The chosen race varied year on year, with the Cup being contested over distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile and a half.

• 1.50pm Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap (Stewards’ Cup Consolation) 6f 3y+ £75,000
• 2.25pm Qatar Summer Handicap 1m 6f 3y+ £100,000
• 3.00pm Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2) 1m 6f 3y+ f&m £300,000
• 3.40pm Unibet Stewards’ Cup Heritage Handicap 6f 3y+ £250,000
• 4.15pm Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden 7f 2y c&g £30,000
• 4.50pm Qatar Handicap (86-105) 7f 3y £30,000
• 5.25pm Qatar Apprentice Handicap (76-95) 1m 1f 11y 3y+ £25,000
• Day’s prize money £810,000

If you’re looking for ideas on how to celebrate Glorious Goodwood, why not read The Wine Tipster’s blog on #GloriousAtHome here.

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The QIPCO King George Diamond Racing Weekend is Ascot’s midsummer showpiece, celebrating the best of British summertime as one of the most prestigious race meetings outside of the Royal Meeting. Combining world-class Flat racing with a quintessential English garden party experience, it is an unmissable event steeped in history and synonymous with style. Here, The Wine Tipster shares his tips for enjoying the weekend at home with food, drink and ideas to celebrate safely. 

Races

An enhanced 17 races will take place at Ascot for the weekend, with a nine-race card on the Saturday and eight races on the Sunday. The pinnacle of the weekend’s races  is Saturday’s 03:35 PM The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (Class 1) (Group 1) 3+ with prize money totalling £400,000 and being run over one mile about four furlongs. The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes was first run almost 70 years ago in 1951, in tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s parents, and has long been recognised as Europe’s premier, mid-season, middle distance race for all age groups. Since then has had three two-time winners in Dahlia, Swain and most recently Enable, whilst Lester Piggott and Sir Michael Stoute hold the positions of the race’s winning-most jockey and trainer with 7 and 6 wins respectively.

For a full list of the weekend’s races, visit the Ascot and the Unibet websites.

This year, much loved defending champion, Enable, is welcomed back to the Ascot turf as she goes in search of a record third win in The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.

Where to Watch

The weekend will be broadcast live on ITV & Sky Sports Racing. ITV will broadcast five races on the Saturday on ITV1, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, and four races on the Sunday on ITV4. Sky Sports Racing will show every race of the weekend live.

Throughout the weekend, The Wine Tipster will be on Social Media connecting with audiences and commenting on the live action. Follow him here.

What to Drink

The Ascot Wine Club is Ascot’s new online wine shop, in partnership with Official Wine Supplier, Hallgarten & Novum Wines, and Official Champagne, Moët & Chandon. They are stocked with a range of bottles for every budget to order online in time for the weekend’s races. To help celebrate this great weekend of racing, The Ascot Wine Club are delighted to offer the chance to win a Methuselah (6litres!) of the fabulous Whispering Angel Rosé. This is a wonderful Rosé, and all you have to do to be in with a chance is place an order from The Ascot Wine Club before 2nd August 2020 and you’ll be entered into the prize draw. For more information on this great opportunity, read here. 

Moët & Chandon are the official partner of Ascot and the perfect taste of luxury to celebrate some wins. The QIPCO King George Diamond Racing Weekend is introducing a Golden Ticket Prize Draw for 2020 in association with the iconic Champagne House. To be in with a chance of winning hospitality at Ascot for up to six people, download a ticket and see if it turns gold at 17:43 on Saturday 25th July 2020 (to celebrate the year Maison Moët was founded). Apply here and read T&Cs here.

Why not make yourself a Harrogate Fruit Cup, brought to you by Harrogate Water – Official Water of Ascot. This non-alcoholic fruit cup is perfect for sipping at home during the weekend, and kids will be able to enjoy it too! You’ll need: Harrogate Spring Water, 1 tsp sugar free lemon syrup, 1/2 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar, 6 strawberries, 8 raspberries, mint leaves, lemon and orange slices – recipe here.

What to Eat

Test your knowledge of King George winners in this 10-1 quiz. The categories are as follows:

Enable – Queen of the Turf – is one of the greatest horses ever to have graced the turf. The only European-based filly or mare to have earned over £10m in prize money, she has beaten many of the best horses in training on some of the biggest stages in world racing, compiling one of the most decorated CVs in the sport’s history. For fans looking to support this amazing horse or for activities to do over the weekend, check out the Enable Fan Activity Pack which includes bunting, wordsearches and games, flags to wave, and a quiz to do with the family!

Connect with The Wine Tipster on Social Media to share how you are celebrating the weekend, and however you choose to enjoy The QIPCO King George Diamond Racing Weekend, here’s to some wins and some good memories! Cheers! 

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One of the highlights of the British flat racing calendar and the summer season, The Qatar Goodwood Festival, or Glorious Goodwood, is an exceptional meeting of horse racing talent and a wonderful five days of events and hospitality. With the current restrictions, racing will primarily be behind closed doors, and Goodwood are encouraging punters to celebrate #GloriousAtHome! Join The Wine Tipster in getting ready for this unforgettable racing event with his range of tips and insider information.

#GloriousAtHome

For most of the festival’s punters, watching and celebrating from home will be the order of the day, and luckily The Wine Tipster has a range of ways to enjoy from the comfort of your home. The races will be covered on ITV and Racing TV and The Wine Tipster will be active across his Social Media and Unibet Racing Blog to engage with audiences about the festival.

 

 

The Glorious Five are the ones to watch this year. Stradivarius will be racing in Tuesday’s Qatar Goodwood Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 2m 3y+ £500,000, Kameko and Siskin in Wednesday’s Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (BCS) 1m 3y+ £1,000,000, Deirdre in Thursday’s Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) 1m 1f 197y 3y+ f&m £600,000, and Battaash in Friday’s King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) 5f 3y+ £300,000.

 

 

 

 

 

Hampers

As a drinks specialist, The Wine Tipster is particularly excited about the Glorious Goodwood Hampers on sale to make celebrating the races even easier and more luxurious. Choose one of three hampers to be delivered for a day of the festival – the last day to order being Saturday 25th July to arrive in time for the fifth day of the races. Each wicker hamper, tied with a Goodwood ribbon, is filled with five-courses of delicious local and artisan foods from award-winning British producers, as well as the option to choose a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, Gusbourne English Sparkling Wine or Mirabeau Rosé. See below for a list of menus to choose from.

 

 

 

 

 

With race-days continuing to be held behind closed doors, the spectacle that is The Moët and Chandon July Festival at Newmarket (9th-11th July 2020) will be celebrated at home – and what a treat it promises to be. Here, I share with you my tips for turning your home into the centre of the race-day action, with wine and bubbles to accompany the great racing. Read on and get ready for the #JulyFestAtHome with The Wine Tipster…

 

Where to find The Wine Tipster throughout the festival

The Wine Tipster will be enjoying the racing from home, and will be busy writing a daily Unibet Racing Blog full of tips for the next days’ races. He will be active across his Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook throughout the Festival, responding in real time to the action via Twitter. Make sure to follow him to see how he’s celebrating the #JulyFestAtHome!

Where to watch

ITV Racing will be showing 5 races each day, and Racing TV will be covering every race as well as replays of the races.

Look up the schedule of races here.

Race Cards

Thursday 9th – Look out for the 3:00 Tattersalls July Stakes Group 2 (6f, 2yo) and the 4:10 Princess of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes Group 2 (1m4f 3yo+). Both will be shown on ITV4 and Racing TV and are the highest level races of the first day.

Friday 10th – The Wine Tipster will be closely watching the 2:25 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes Group 2 (6f, 2yo) and the 4:10 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes Group 1 (1m, 3yo+), with the latter being the highest level group for flat racing. Both are sure to be great races, and will be shown on ITV4 and Racing TV

Saturday 11th – For the final day of racing, the 3:35 Darley July Cup Stakes Group 1 (6f, 3yo+) is a real feature race of the week, as is the super competitive 4:10 Bunbury Cup (7f, 3yo+) closing the week’s racing in style.

The July Festival At Home – Picnics and Fizz

Why not celebrate in style with some food and drink inspiration from yours truly and The Jockey Club:

Picnics

A picnic always goes down a treat, especially in between races with the award-winning artisan produce included in the Best of British Gourmet Picnic Hamper for Two, Four or Six from British Fine Foods, available to order here. The Scotch Eggs, Roast Smoked Salmon, Chicken Liver Paté and cheese board superbly match the iconic champagne of Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial included in the hamper. The Wine Tipster has previously given tips for creating the perfect picnic – read them here.

The Jockey Club also suggest treating yourself to a picnic hamper or afternoon tea from a local business, with suggestions close to Newmarket, but other delis and shops across the country sure to offer similar items to help you enjoy the races at home. The Wine Tipster especially loves the Newmarket Sausages from Powters. Support local!

If you’re putting together a homemade picnic, Frazer Wilson – The Jockey Club’s Director of Culinary – has a fabulous Pressed Picnic Sandwich recipe which is well worth a try.

Are you a keen baker? Turn your hand to Frazer Wilson’s recipes for success – gin strawberries and custard creams, chocolate tart, and lemon drizzle cake – some tasty treats that go down well with The Wine Tipster’s fizz selections for the week.

 

Fizz

Why not take this celebratory week to try some new fizz, and find your favourite with tips from The Wine Tipster’s latest

feature for The Jockey Club. 

The July Festival presents the special opportunity to open a bottle of the best champagne to hopefully celebrate some wins! Moët & Chandon’s very own Grand Vintage 2012 is the 74^th Grand Vintage produced by the House and offers superb harmony and softness. What a perfect way to celebrate #TheJulyFestAtHome. Vintage champagne is made from grapes harvested from one year and the vintage (year) appears on the label.

For a delicate and summer champagne, the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2012 is wonderfully fresh, and as the House’s 43rd Grand Vintage Rosé it is exceptionally complex and mature. The Rosé Impérial also delivers fruity and bright notes with a complementary diversity of grapes.

For those who prefer their wine over ice, the Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial offers a new champagne experience. Designed to be enjoyed with ice for a fun and fresh drinking sensation, this champagne still remains true to the distinguished and bright style of the House. 

The main thing, as ever, is to try new things and remember – there’s something for every budget when it comes to wine. Enjoy!

 

The July Fest At Home – Celebrate in Style

Dress 

Instead of dressing up and having a great day out, you can still dress up and have a great day in! Dress to impress and enter the Virtual Style Awards for the chance to be named ‘Best Dressed’ and win a beauty hamper worth over £350. Share your pic on Instagram using #StyleAwards and tag @newmarket_racecourses and @velvetmag 

I’ll certainly be joining the trend and dressing to impress at home!

Garden

 

If you’re a keen gardener, why not enter the first ever July Festival Floral Awards by sharing an Instagram picture of the flowers you’re growing at home using #FloralAwards and tag @tomhoblyn and @newmarket_racecourses to enter. Prizes include bottles of Moët and Chandon and winners will be judged by Tom Hoblyn – a RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court award winning landscape designer, horticulturist and gardener. Get some inspiration for your entry and your garden here.

 

 

Home

Make your home into a race day epicentre with a playlist to accompany the day, fun activities for little ones, bunting to string around your home and even virtual backgrounds of the racecourses to surprise your friends and family with when you call to share news of your celebrations and wins!

 

The Wine Tipster looks forward to keeping up with the races across the 4 days, and interacting with you on Social Media, his Unibet Blog and Zoom sessions. Cheers to a wonderful #JulyFestAtHome!

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In this difficult time where vineyards have been trying to cope with the late frost in May (the latest on record) whilst in the midst of a national lockdown, The Wine Tipster investigates how 5 of his local vineyards and wineries have been affected over the past 3 months, and how they are easing back into normality this July.

 

Bothy Vineyard

Who

Bothy Vineyard is steeped in tradition as Oxfordshire’s oldest winery and vineyard, positioned in the beautiful Vale of the White Horse since 1978. Richard and Sian Liwicki have done wonders creating an environmentally friendly vineyard and high-quality wines, introducing new grape varieties in 2007 and gaining a community of loyal Bothy customers along the way.

Wines

The Wine Tipster discovered the small and artisanal Bothy Vineyard a while ago and enjoys their speciality crisp, aromatic, English white wines such as The Doctor’s Bacchus 2018 – who’s predecessor won Best Regional Wine and Best White Wine in the 2018 Thames and Chilterns Vineyards Association Wine Challenge, and this 2018 bottle winning Gold.

Bothy wines also include a rosé, sparkling and red alongside their award-winning whites, and all are carefully made with minimal intervention throughout the wine making process to ensure maximum environmental sustainability. Their long list of proactive environmental measures is well worth a read, and their passion for the environment and wildlife are evident.

Vines update

Sadly, Bothy Vineyard lost their 2020 vintage in the series of extreme frosty nights in May, with temperatures as low as -4 claiming the growth from the previously warm weather. Luckily, the vines are recovering well and although there will be no crop this year, Bothy’s 2018 vintage is at its peak and the 2019 vintage will soon be able to be bottled and enjoyed.

Lockdown

Bothy Vineyard has been open during lockdown for sales by appointment (ring ahead 01865 390067 or email office@bothyvineyard.co.uk), with all safety measures considered to make the buying experience safe and enjoyable – such as the option to bank transfer before collecting bottles. 6 bottles or more can even be ordered online and delivered for free to Oxford, Abingdon and local areas using their green energy electric car.

Their tours have been postponed until further notice, but they are active on Facebook where they are currently keeping a wildflower diary (with the odd glow-worm sighting included!), as well as via their newsletters and Instagram.

 

Poulton Hill Estate Vineyard

Who

Poulton Hill Estate Vineyard are a small team running a big operation, doing everything by hand from bud rubbing and harvesting to delivering bottles in their yellow 2CV. Since planting in 2010, their 8,800 vines near Cirencester and Cheltenham produce up to 20,000 bottles a year of red, white and rosé still wines along with sparkling whites and rosé. Managing Director Tiléri Charles-Jones has done a fantastic job, with her team of 3, at growing an impressive business.

Wines

Having trademarked ‘Bulari’ as a generic term for English Sparkling, their multi-award winning English Sparkling Brut is the epitome of the style. Poulton Hill Estate are now available in Waitrose which is a huge achievement, but understandable given their list of awards – their Sparkling Brut won a Q at the Quality Drinks Awards 2016 against worldwide producers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Aldi and M&S, as well as having many other awards to its name.

Vines Update

Due to lower cool units over the winter and early warmth in Spring, Poulton Hill Estate’s vines came out of their dormancy a couple of weeks earlier than normal. This meant they were more susceptible to the late frost in May which claimed 50-60% of the vines. Unfortunately, the buds will take three years to fully recover and will their produce lower quality grapes or none at all this year. Although some varieties have started flowering already (Regent and Rondo), others are too frost bitten. Yield will be down significantly for the UK which will, in turn, affect sparkling wine production in a few years as it generally takes two years to make a decent sparkling. There may be shortages ahead!

However, if Poulton Hill’s grapes are not up to the quality they desire, they get turned into brandy! They also produce a Sloe de Vie from the sloes grown in the hedgerows on the estate, so there are still ways to enjoy Poulton Hill Estate as well as their previous vintages.

Lockdown

Tours and tastings at the vineyard have been postponed until further notice, and the availability of their luxury converted barn accommodation is similarly affected. However, bottles of Poulton Hill Estate wine are available to buy from their online store and Cellar Door, as well as from a number of quality retailers and pubs throughout the Cotswolds.

 

Three Choirs Vineyard

Who

Three Choirs Vineyard is one of England’s oldest and largest vineyards, with 75 acres of land in Gloucestershire, and first planting reaching back to the great vintage of 1973. It is also the first English vineyard The Wine Tipster ever visited! The stunning setting makes the perfect location for the team at Three Choirs Vineyard to share with visitors throughout the year.

Wines

Three Choirs have a range of fantastic wines, and won Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2017. They have just added two new sparkling wines to their mail orders – Blanc de Noirs 2012 and Pinot Noir Rose 2014. The release of their Coleridge Hill 2019, Rose 2019 and Pinot Noir 2018 have also been greatly received.

Vines

Unscathed by the late frost in early May, the vineyards are flowering roughly 3 weeks earlier than normal and look to be set for a good harvest this year – Cheers!

Lockdown

Direct customer interest throughout the pandemic has been good for Three Choirs, and their virtual wine tasting sessions have gone down a treat. Three Choirs offers luxury lodges and rooms to escape to the heart of English wine which will be open from 4th July, along with the brasserie and tours for guests, before extending tours and lunch experiences to the public in August. Three Choirs Vineyards’ award-winning wines are still available from their Cellar Door and mail order.

 

Welcombe Hills Vineyard

Who

Welcombe Hills Vineyard overlooks the historic town of Stratford Upon Avon and has been producing award winning wine since 2001. A family business run by Jonathan and Nichola Kelsey, Welcombe Hills Vineyard has grown from a ‘hobby’ vineyard to a well established business, with its 2.5 acres produce 9 varieties of grape. 

Wines

Despite a brief spell of not producing wine under its own label, the 2019 relaunch of the Welcombe Hills Wine saw bottles sell out by Christmas and won its 2018 Bacchus best wine of its class in the Wine GB Midlands and North competition, and take home a silver medal and best label award too.

This year, Welcombe Hills have brought back their first English Sparkling Wine from the fantastic 2018 vintage, Ophelia (a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Auxerrois), as well as continuing their Shakespearean names with their 2019 Bacchus, The Tempest, and 2019 Sauvignon Blanc and Bacchus, Twelfth Night, to join their 2018 Rosé, ‘a Rose by any other name.’ They will launch the first red produced in the vineyard for 7 years, a blend of Noir and Pinot Précoce, that is currently maturing in French Oak barrels.

Vines

The 2.5-acre vineyard is currently soaking up the warm weather having luckily avoided the late frost in May which so many other vineyards were hit by. The amazingly warm weather has brought flowering ahead by 2-3 weeks ahead of their previous earliest date, and they hope to have a record year for yield and quality!

Lockdown

Tours of the vineyard have successfully begun again with appropriate safety measures in place and can be booked online on the website, where you can also find their wines for sale individually and by the case. Free delivery is available within 25 miles.

 

Woodchester Valley Vineyard

Who

Woodchester Valley is a family owned vineyard and winery with three different vineyard sites throughout the Stroud valley in the South Cotswolds, with a total of 45 acres under vines. As a family owned boutique vineyard, Woodchester Valley has grown impressively from a single acre planted in 2007, to its now three vineyard sites and onsite winery.

Wines

Woodchester Valley has grown from a single acre planted in 2007 to the award-winning wine producing vineyard that it is today – it’s latest award being a gold medal in the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters, judged by Masters of Wine, at the start of 2020. They have just released two limited-edition wines – Atcombe Red 2018, a Pinot Noir and Regent blend, and Atcombe White 2019, an elegant Sauvignon Blanc, Ortega blend crafted with their critically acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Vines

The hot Spring brought budburst forward by two weeks for the vineyard. However, with the risk of frost approaching, Woodchester Valley protected this new growth from the late frost by lighting thousands of bougies throughout the vines. These anti-frost candles in large metal canisters burn for several hours and warm the air circulating around the vine to prevent damaging tender shoots and buds. Not only do they make for a magical picture but also minimised vine losses to 7%! It should be another great harvest for Woodchester.

Lockdown

Woodchester Valley successfully ran a number of virtual tasting events and a delivery service throughout lockdown, creating a tasting case of six wines to be enjoyed at home and alongside the virtual tastings. All are available to watch on the website still. Woodchester are looking forward to the gradual reopening of the vineyard from 4^th July with the appropriate safety measures. There will be a great deal to engage with at the vineyard in the coming months, such as tours starting again from the 7th August and welcoming guests into their accommodation from 10th July. Wines can now be collected from the re-opened Cellar Door shop, or via free delivery for 6 or more bottles from the online shop.

 

The Wine Tipster is immensely impressed with the resilience of these local vineyards during such hard times, and encourages everyone to explore (safely) and support their local vineyards in the coming months.  

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Peter Stafford-Bow’s latest release, Firing Blancs, is an hilarious read from start to finish – showing the industry in every possible light and making sure no one gets away unscathed by Stafford-Bow’s light-hearted satirical narrative.

Volume three of the acclaimed Felix Hart Novels, Firing Blancs, offers some welcome escapism from the current climate. Despite his publisher’s wish to push its release to September 2020, Stafford-Bow’s assertion that this is what the world needs right now is entirely accurate – thank goodness for its June release date just in time for summer reading.

Featuring an array of comedic, outlandish and, dare-I-say, recognisable characters in the fictional Gatesave Supermarket and vineyards of South Africa, this book goes down a treat with a glass of something and an evening or two.

Like the previous two novels in the series, Corkscrew and Brut Force, Firing Blancs is rich with scathing insights into the world of wine in ways that readers from any industry can’t help but laugh at. As one who is familiar with the Wine and Drinks Industry, the book certainly shows every side of the business and with a self-awareness that makes its riotous plot and tone really hit the mark. Stafford-Bow’s award-worthy writing shines through in this fast-paced, masterfully executed and well-structured satire. The South African setting flits between beautiful vineyard scenes and dramatic holiday from hell vibes, making for a drink splutteringly good read.

Ever the hapless protagonist, Hart’s witty cynicism, bold interpretations of the truth and outrageous confidence make him what all great characters should be – loveable, loosely relatable and just a tad more adventurous than you would be in the absurd situations Hart finds himself in. I particularly enjoyed his taste for the finer things in life, and his daringly unapologetic ways of obtaining them – I’d hate to be his manager! His great comebacks and hilarious conversations, with an air of sophistication above others, are hugely enjoyable and his undercover persona even in the tightest of scrapes is still humorously confident and charming.

If you find yourself short of time to read it, although I highly recommend that you make the time to enjoy it like a good vintage, Peter Stafford-Bow has taken to YouTube for Wine O’Clock to share readings of the book with viewers.

Cheers!

Available to buy from Waterstones, Amazon, Audible, Apple Books, IndieBound (USA), and Bookshop (USA), as well as from a range of independent UK bookshops listed on Peter Stafford-Bow’s website. 

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Here, The Wine Tipster guides you through the best drinks to celebrate the British summer season at home.

Horse Racing is Back!

The Wine Tipster has been enjoying racing “behind closed doors” recently with successful tips at The QIPCO Guineas Festival  and Royal Ascot . He has also supported the launch of the new Ascot Wine Club with three cases named after former Gold Cup champions, Yeats, Sagaro and Fame and Glory. See The Wine Tipster on the Ascot Wine Club video here.

Although you may not need to dust off the binoculars for the races this year, The Wine Tipster has encouraged punters to still dress up for the occasion and enjoy the events from home along with racecourse campaigns such as Royal Ascot’s #StyledWithThanks. He suggests you celebrate the races and, “Dress to impress and bring out the canapés! Keep a cool head with a lower alcohol white while studying the form, build the excitement with some top Rosé, bring out a pedigree fizz when you bag your first winner, and relax with a smooth red when you’re ahead.”

The Wine Tipster is also looking forward to watching via broadcast media Epsom’s Investec Derby Day (4^th July), Sandown Park’s Coral-Eclipse Day (5^th July), Newmarket’s Moët & Chandon July Festival (9^th – 11^th July), Ascot’s King George VI Weekend (25^th July), the Qatar Goodwood Festival (28^th July – 1^st August) and the Yorkshire Ebor Festival (19^th – 22^nd August). Tune into ITV and Racing TV to watch all the races.

Catch The Wine Tipster’s racing tips on the Unibet Racing Blog.

The Wine Tipster’s drinks fit for the races:

• Moët & Chandon 2012 Grand Vintage Brut (Majestic and other retailers around £52) – Celebrate in style!
• Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde 2019, Portugal (Waitrose £8.99) – A perfect match for smoked salmon.
• Muga Rioja Rosado 2019, Spain (Waitrose £9.99) – Dry, elegant, delicately fruity.
• Stonier Pinot Noir 2017, Mornington Peninsula Australia (Majestic £22.99) – Beautifully crafted and balanced.
• Luscombe Sicilian Organic Lemonade (Sainsbury’s £3.00 for 100ml) – An excellent soft drink option.

 

Wimbledon Championships (29th June – 11th July)

Sadly, there is no live action at Wimbledon this year but Wimbledon fortnights of the past are being remembered on the website and we can all get involved via social media with #WimbledonRecreated by sharing our best Wimbledon memories or recreating our favourite Wimbledon traditions. Check out the details on the Wimbledon Championships website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Wine Tipster says: “I’m missing Wimbledon this year, but I’m not going to miss out on some fabulous strawberries and cream! Here are my wine tips to match.” 

The Wine Tipster’s drinks fit for the tennis:

• Lanson Black Label Brut Champagne NV, France (Tesco £33.00 and other retailers). Lanson has been the Official Champagne of Wimbledon for a number of years now and they produce a fabulous range of Champagnes including their flagship Lanson Black Label Brut NV.
• Lanson Rosé Brut Champagne NV, France (Tesco £38.00 and other retailers) – Gorgeous, dry rosé with lovely flavours of summer fruits and perfectly balanced.

 

Al Fresco

Other outdoor events we can’t attend in person this year include Henley Royal Regatta, Foodies Festivals and music festivals all over the country. We can still enjoy throwing down a blanket though and brining out some tasty treats to enjoy al fresco. In his previous blog post, The Wine Tipster detailed how to enjoy a picnic in style – read it here.

Foodies Festivals will be running Prosecco Tastings with The Wine Tipster on Facebook Live at 1pm on 18^th July and 8^th August.

 

The Classics

Glyndebourne Festival, on every Sunday in July at 5pm, and The BBC Proms (17th July – 12th September) are available to enjoy online, on radio and on TV.  The Wine Tipster says: “I’ll be tuning in to these classic events, whilst enjoying some top vinous classics too!” 

The Wine Tipster’s Pitch-Perfect Drinks: 

• Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, Sussex (Waitrose, Majestic £36.99) is always refined, elegant and beautifully made. A vino composition to savour.
• Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019, is classic New Zealand style and just what you are looking for from a high-class Marlborough producer based in the beautiful Awatere Valley (Waitrose £11.59).
• Château Léoube Rosé 2018, Provence, France (Daylesford shop £17.49) is pitch-perfect dry Provence Rosé that has the style and elegance to suit the occasion.
• Espérance de Trotanoy, Pomerol Bordeaux 2014 (Corney & Barrow £69.25) is a powerful, perfumed performance of a wine with dark brooding fruits and purring tannins which combine for a crescendo finish.
• Château Beaumont 2015 Haut Medoc Cru Bourgeois is a very classy, great value Bordeaux from a luxurious vintage (Lea & Sandeman £21.95).

 

The Wine Tipster wishes everyone a safe and socially-distanced summer season, still full of fun and vinous joy.

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I’m looking forward to the Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle as I’m a massive fan of these staying Handicaps and this year’s renewal is certainly competitive. I’m also interested to see Aloe Vera make her return in the 3.00 at Newcastle as I think she could have a very successful 2020.

English Wine Week finishes tomorrow and there is no doubt that Wines of Great Britain have done an excellent job here for all producers as there has been so much engagement here.

I have a bottle of Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV from the hills of Hampshire chilling on ice to enjoy after racing. Hopefully, celebrating a winner or two!

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) 6f   

With Brando disappointing once too often these days, have a look at Kevin Ryan’s other good sprinter, Major Jumbo, here. He’s got the potential plot draw in stall 12, which is going to enable him to grab the stands rail, often favoured, and with no other potential pacemaker he can set his own fractions. Could be hard to pass if so. Unibet 9/2 win

2.40 Newmarket – Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Limato is the class act but his record after a long break isn’t great, and he may need it. Yafta for the Richard Hannon team keeps threatening to win one of these and his close fifth behind Space Blues at Haydock earlier in the month looks all the better after he won easily in France On Thursday. Drawn next to likely pacemaker Vale Of Kent, should have his chance late. Unibet 9/1 each way

3.00 Newcastle – Exchange Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

Aloe Vera (nap) was pulled out at Royal Ascot because of the testing conditions on the Thursday. She hasn’t been seen for over a year, since winning a Listed contest at Goodwood on her second start, having won on debut. She looked a very exciting prospect for the Ralph Beckett team, and I have been waiting for her return to action. Unibet 9/4 win

3.35 Northumberland Plate (Handicap) 2m ½f

Cosmelli (Gay Kelleway) clearly runs well at Newcastle as he won the Plate consolation race in 2018 and no arguing his chance from a handicapping point of view, 8lb lower than when a 2½l fifth in the race last year. In good form over trips too short since return and ought to be thereabouts. Unibet 11/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

Anyonecanhaveitall for Mark Johnston bumped into a well-handicapped improver in the shape of Oleg at Pontefract, the winner coming from an impossible position to nail him on the post. I watched this race at the time and the first two finished four lengths clear and the form looks very solid. He has had 4 lengths win and a neck second in two runs at Newcastle so clearly handles the track. Unibet 16/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

7.15 Curragh – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f

Fiscal Rules for Jim Bolger was a staying-on fifth in the Irish 2000 but this step up in trip is going to make a difference – his half-sister Cimeara needs 1 mile four furlongs as a minimum, and the dam was a 12f horse. The fact he was thrown into the 2000 after just one run in a maiden shows trainer clearly thinks plenty of him. Expect a big step forward here. Unibet 13/2 each way

June 20th – 28th is English Wine Week which coincides with National Picnic Week (June 22nd -28th)! Here The Wine Tipster guides you through how to make the most of the week celebrating the wonderful wines of Great Britain as well as the glorious summer weather.

 

The Wine Tipster enjoyed a fantastic week of racing at Royal Ascot last week and at The QIPCO Guineas Festival the previous week. With the return of racing behind closed doors, The Wine Tipster has been encouraging punters to celebrate the races at home with wines from the new Ascot Wine Club available in three cases named after former Gold Cup champions, Yeats, Sagaro and Fame and Glory. 

He is looking forward to the coming months of racing, including Epsom’s Investec Derby Day (4^th July), Sandown Park’s Coral-Eclipse Day (5^th July), Newmarket’s Moët & Chandon July Festival (9^th – 11^th July), Ascot’s King George VI Weekend (25^th July), the Qatar Goodwood Festival (28^th July – 1^st August) and the Yorkshire Ebor Festival (19^th – 22^nd August). Tune into ITV and Racing TV to watch all the races!

 

In the meantime, The Wine Tipster has some great ideas for enjoying this English Wine Week and National Picnic Week to celebrate some great local producers and the fabulous summer weather. 

English Wine Week (20th-28th June)

English Wine Week is an annual celebration of our home-grown wine producers who are making many delicious wines. There are now around 650 commercial vineyards in Great Britain! Raise a glass and join in their virtual celebrations this year for #EnglishWineWeek from #WinesofGreatBritain.

The Wine Tipster’s ‘Top 5 Cotswold Vineyards for English Wine Week’ article in Cotswold Life is a great start on your journey to discovering some great UK wine producers.

The Wine Tipster’s drinks fit for an English Wine Week afternoon tea:

• Coates & Seely Britagne Brut Rosé NV (Coates & Seely online £32.95): Perfect to match with scones laden with strawberry jam and cream – or cream and strawberry jam, depending where you’re from!
• Lyme Block Bacchus 2019, Devon, (Aldi £9.99) Bacchus works so well in England as it is light, aromatic and fresh in style, with peach and citrus fruit on the palate. A great success!
• Chapel Down English Rosé 2019, Kent (Waitrose £12.99) Easy drinking Rosé, with delicate summer fruits and a lovely crisp finish.
• Bolney Estate Pinot Noir 2018, Sussex (Oxford Wine Co. £21.99). Bolney Estate produce fantastic wines and they have led the way with English red wines, including this delicate, elegant and fruity Pinot Noir
• Belvoir Elderflower and Rose Pressé (Sainsbury’s £2.70 for 750ml) is a delicious soft drink option.

 

National Picnic Week (22nd-28th June)

With the sterling weather this week, why not enjoy a glass of English wine or any of The Wine Tipster’s below recommendations on a picnic blanket in the garden or at a safe distance to others in the local park. The Wine Tipster says: “Picnics are great fun, with lots of tasty and easy-to-nibble choices. Select drinks to give your blanket banquet a touch of casual elegance with the below top tipples.”

The Wine Tipster’s drinks fit for a picnic:

• Astoria Prosecco DOC Treviso Extra Dry “Galìe”, Italy (Gerrard Seel £12.95) Lovely, soft, floral, fruity and elegant with beautiful balance – the perfect start to every picnic.
• For a white wine in a stylish picnic-friendly box, try Maree d’Ione Fiano, IGP Puglia Italy 2.25L (Waitrose £25.99). Organic and vegan-friendly too, this has lovely refreshing citrus and tropical fruit flavours.
• With the pickles and pâtés, a Rosé with a hint of spice alongside its dark berry fruit is required and Santa Julia Plus Malbec Rosé 2019 from Argentina (Sainsbury’s £9.00) is just the ticket.
• Warm and smooth as the summer afternoon, the gently spicy Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône 2018 from France is a true crowd pleaser (Tesco, Asda £8.00).
• For a beer with character try Chadlington Brewery’s Oxford Pale Ale – the perfect ale from the Cotswolds (Online shop, £29.99 for 12 bottles).
• And don’t forget lashing of ginger beer! Try Fentimans Ginger Beer from Sainsbury’s, £1.30 for 275ml. 

 

However you choose to celebrate this classically British summer week, connect with The Wine Tipster across social media and share your experience – Cheers! 

For the first time in the 250+ years of Royal Ascot history, this celebration of racing and hospitality will take place behind closed doors for 2020 (Tuesday 16^th – Saturday 20^th June). However, racegoers will still be able to enjoy the racing action live on ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing, take part in themed activities and dress up at home to bring Royal Ascot to life.

Get ready to show your support fabulously, because this year Royal Ascot is coming to you.

#StyledWithThanks

With a big part of the Royal Ascot experience being the amazing fashion on show and the chance to dress up, Ascot are wanting racegoers to continue this trend while watching at home.

As part of Royal Ascot At Home, fans across the globe are invited to style an outfit or just a hat fit for the races, and share a photo on social media using the hashtags #StyledWithThanks and #RoyalAscot before donating £5 if possible. Photos posted during the campaign will be turned into a giant rainbow mosaic tribute and become a permanent feature at Ascot Racecourse. You can even use the Ascot Instagram filter as a background to your selfies!

By spreading the word of this charity appeal across social media, Ascot aims to bring together punters for the Ascot experience whilst saying thank you to frontline workers and raising money for the racecourse’s choice of four frontline charities: The National Emergencies Trust Relief Fund, NHS Charities Together, The Care Workers Charity, and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund.

Ascot has launched its #StyledWithThanks campaign with a £100,000 donation across the charities, and will be awarding prizes to social media entries for the Most Elegant outfit, Most Original outfit, and Most Uplifting outfit. So Style, Share, and Support the campaign’s charitable causes and be in with a chance of winning some impressive prizes.

The Wine Tipster will be wearing a three piece suit from Clements and Church to celebrate the Royal Meeting. Follow him on social media to see his #StyledWithThanks selfies and tips for wines and races throughout the week – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Unibet Blog.

Hats of Ascot

Continuing with the importance of style and fashion at Ascot, there there will be a Millinery Auction in partnership with the British Hat Guild during the Royal Meeting. Leading British milliners have created bespoke hats and headpieces for the races featuring rainbows which will be auctioned online during the week of Royal Ascot At Home. All money raised will be added to the charity fund.

If you fancy making your own top hat, theres a template to follow here.

Inspiration

Ascot has also paired with The British Fashion Council to support British designers, inviting them to create sketches and illustrations of their dream Royal Ascot outfit following the rainbow theme. They are available on the website to provide inspiration when planning your own #StyledWithThanks outfit.

 

Watching At Home

Royal Ascot’s enhanced 36-race card over the five days will be available to watch on ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing from June 16^th to June 20^th. In between races, watch video messages from Frankie Dettori, Oisin Murphy and Wesley Ward and read up on the rich history of Ascot via the website.

You can even nominate someone to receive a phone call from a racing legend – truly bringing the races home!

The Wine Tipster will be writing a daily Unibet Racing Blog throughout the Royal Meeting, so make sure to read his tips before enjoying the races. The Wine Tipster will also be featuring on TalkSport2, who are covering all the races and BBC Radio Berkshire. 

 

Celebrate Royal Ascot At Home

Food

This year, Ascot’s team of chefs-in-residence, with a combined total of 10 Michelin-stars, have created an outstanding selection of recipes and tutorials to help you create a fine dining experience at home. With food from Raymond Blanc OBE, James Tanner, Ollie Dabbous, Eric Lanlard, and Ben Dutson, this is an amazing opportunity to learn from the best. 

Afternoon Tea

As an event which truly showcases the very best in food and drink, Ascot in association with British Fine Foods are offering a ‘Royal Ascot At Home Afternoon Tea’ to be delivered straight to your door in time for the Royal Meeting. With optional add-ons from Moët & Chandon and the Ascot Shop for an extra special celebration, £5 from each Royal Ascot At Home Afternoon Tea sale will be donated to Ascot Racecourse Supports Charitable Fund, supporting efforts in the local community and beyond.

Or if you’re feeling creative, why not make your own with advice from Ascot’s Head Chef and Executive Chef, Ben Dutson and Gemma Amor, brought to you by Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage.  

Ascot Wine Club

The launch of the new Ascot Wine Club, in partnership with Official Wine Supplier Hallgarten & Novum Wines and Official Champagne Moët & Chandon, allows you to enjoy the luxury of Ascot in your own home. See The Wine Tipster’s previous blog on how buying a case gives to the Ascot Racecourse Supports Charitable Fund.

Activities

Tips from Ascot’s Head Gardener, Jeremy Lockwood, show you how to achieve the perfect Queen Anne Rose and hanging baskets.

Get the kids involved in this great week of racing and celebration of the sport with a huge range of activities available. Featuring an array of activities which are great way to keep them quiet in the tenser moments of the races or to ignite their passion for racing too.

 

Have a wonderful Royal Ascot celebrating the races from at home, as The Wine Tipster will be doing – #StyledWithThanks for the frontline workers and NHS.

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