FOOD & DRINK

IN HIGH SPRITZ

Trethurgy-based Knightor Winery has launched a new spritz.

“Capturing the essence of the coast in the convenience of a can”, Aprèz is inspired by Knightor’s vermouth and is said to be a first of its kind to be produced in Cornwall.

And according to marketing executive, Gemma Kettle, initial reaction has been positive.

“We recently conducted a blind taste event against a market leading spritz and out of the 50 attendees, over 95% selected Aprèz as their favourite option,” she said. “Now that we have hit the market, we are excited to see how the spritz is received on a more broader scale.”

RAISE A GLASS TO OLD CHAPEL

Truro-based wine merchant Old Chapel Cellars was named IWC Regional Merchant of the Year 2022 for South West England at a glittering awards ceremony at The Hurlingham Club in London.

The awards recognise outstanding achievement in the UK wine trade, bringing together top companies and organisations – large and small – from across the UK.

The small independent wine merchant sells wine direct to the public via its shop and website, and also supplies some of Cornwall’s top restaurants and hotels.

The business is co-owned by Louisa Fitzpatrick and Jamie Tonkin, who said: “The IWC awards are extremely well-regarded in the trade, so just to get through to the final was a great achievement. To be named SW Regional Merchant of the Year by our peers in the industry is incredible. It’s testament to the hard work of the whole team over the past 12 months.” St Austell Brewery has added to its estate portfolio by acquiring the Wellington Hotel in Boscastle.

The Wellington Hotel is a historic coaching inn, dating back to the 16th century, with views overlooking the harbour. The site has 14 bedrooms, three aparthotel suites, a pub, and a restaurant.

GOLDEN BITE

Rock-based Sharp’s Brewery was awarded a gold at the World Beer Awards for Chalky’s Bite.

Chalky’s Bite is the already brewery’s highest-awarded product and was created after chef Rick Stein challenged Sharp’s to create a Cornish beer with the character and quality to stand alongside established Belgian ales.

Chalk’s Bite wasn’t Sharp’s only success at the World Beer Awards this year, with bronzes for Offshore Pilsner, Doom Bar and Atlantic Pale Ale.

BREWERY BUYS HOTEL

closed for the first four months of the year due to lockdown. The company now owns 175 pubs, inns and hotels across the West Country including 39 managed sites, and a portfolio of tenanted and leased properties.

Chief executive, Kevin Georgel, said: “This is our first acquisition in over two years, so it’s an exciting time for the business and a milestone moment in the strong recovery we’ve continued to make since the pandemic. It also supports our plans to strengthen and grow our pub estate, across Cornwall and the wider south west, in the months and years ahead.”

The acquisition is the first in over two years for St Austell Brewery, which recently reported a strong recovery and return to profitability in 2021, despite all its sites being