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HISTORY MADE AT GOLD-MEDAL WINNING HENCOTE An English vineyard has created history after winning a second gold medal for a red wine at the world’s most prestigious wine competition.
reflection on our ambitions for the vineyard to develop hand-produced, award-winning, eco-friendly and highly-sophisticated wines. “Hencote is a relatively small vineyard with just 23,000 vines producing around 30,000 bottles across eight varieties every year, and we were told when we set up that we were too far north to produce high-quality red wines.
The Hencote vineyard struck gold with its Mark I 2018 wine at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) – widely regarded as the Olympics of the industry. The award means the vineyard is the first in the UK to have won gold for two different still red wines, having previously picked up the award for its 2018 Amphora Pinot Noir in 2020.
“But this award is proof that our Mark I is a genuinely world-class wine and an endorsement of our ambition to establish Hencote on the global stage.”
It also means Shrewsbury-based Hencote – which was established only in 2016 by founders Andy and Dora Stevens – has now won two-thirds of the gold medals awarded to UK still reds in any IWC competition and one-third of the total gold medals awarded to any UK still wines at IWC competitions.
The gold medal wine, a blend of Pinot Noir, Précoce and Rondo grapes, was Hencote’s star performer at the International Wine Challenge 2021, where it also won a silver and four bronzes for its other offerings. The results mean that in total Hencote’s 2018 vintages have won a remarkable two golds, a silver and six bronzes at the 2020 and 2021 IWC competitions.
General Manager Mark Stevens said the latest gold medal was a testament to Hencote’s commitment to producing the highestquality wines in its own unique way.
Fellow General Manager Charles Stevens said the vineyard – which covers nearly seven hectares - was determined to become known as the best red wine producer in the country.
“We are thrilled to have been awarded a second gold because it is such a positive 54
