Food & Dining

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Local producers in Poundbury

The Dorset Food and Arts Festival Market—lite is back and getting ready to showcase a bumper crop of local food, drink, art, craft, and community talent.

The event takes place on Saturday 7th August from 10am -4pm at The Great Field, Poundbury, in Dorchester.

Dorset Food and Coordinator Caz Richards said ‘The festival market will look and feel a bit different this year, as we have been advised to scale down, so there won’t be the usual cookery demonstrations or live music programme, but we are hoping to have a few ‘gentle’ buskers to give the pop up shopping and trading experience some atmosphere.’

Caz continues ‘We really hope the local community and staycationers will come and support this popular event and look forward to seeing everybody. Shopping and in the fresh air, catching up with friends and supporting local producers. It’s a winning combination!’

Held on the Saturday closest to the late Queen Mother’s birthday, the festival follows the successful pattern of previous years with free entry for all.

Dorset Food & Drink (DF&D) is a member-based organisation overseen by the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team.

It represents Dorset’s food, drink and hospitality business community bringing a strong and vibrant sector together under one banner and celebrating their connection to the county.

The Festival has been generously supported by the Duchy of Cornwall, and in 2018, the coordination was taken on by Dorset Food & Drink.

Dorset Food & Drink are taking a cautious, but optimistic leap of faith, that restrictions will be relaxed by August, but The Great Field in Poundbury is a fantastic outdoor venue with plenty of room for social distancing. DF&D Coordinator Caz Richards said ‘We shifted the festival location to give us more space and to operate safely. But look forward to returning to our natural home in Queen Mother Square next year!’

Local craft will also be on display

Cider awards highlight International popularity

WHETHER visiting or living in the Westcountry, it is hard to avoid an introduction to local cider. One might even be forgiven for thinking that this is the centre of the cider-making world. But that is not what the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) decided after their inaugural tasting of what they described as ‘100% juice, not-fromconcentrate ciders, perries and fruit wines’.

In partnership with Cider is Wine, the IWSC chose Llanblethian Orchards La Petite Grange du Cidre NV in Wales for their Cider Trophy and awarded their Ice Cider Trophy to Swedish entrant Brännland Cider for their Brännland Iscider Barrique 2012. Judges commented on the ‘wonderful golden oak colour, multi-layered to the rim, rich eastern spice & fruit—a complex style mouth-filling sweet dried fruit and apricots with fresh walnut and spiced aromas finely balanced with lipsmacking acidity, which extends to a long fruit finish. Opulent, decadent, stylish’.

Although cider from The Newt in Somerset and an offering from Trevibban Mill in Cornwall joined the Gold winners, the dominant producers were from Sweden, with gongs also going to Poland and France.

Entries spanned a vast range of categories, from ice ciders, keeved ciders, pet nats and many more, with 10 countries represented at the tasting. The unprecedented number of entries meant more judges were recruited to ensure the IWSC’s rigorous judging process was carried out to its high standard.

All entries were judged blind, with the experts awarding bronze, silver and gold medals to the stand-out drinks.

With this tasting, the first of its kind, the IWSC and Cider Is Wine set out to raise awareness amongst the trade and industry of this oftenmisunderstood category. Co-founder of Cider Is Wine, Alistair Morrell explains that ‘the stunning array of flavours, tastes and styles has wowed the judges with its diversity and the potential to be appreciated as much as fine wine. The results are truly a tribute to the producers’ careful crafting, reflecting where these drinks come from, who produced them, the varietals that made them and the year in which they were harvested. In years to come this tasting will mark the beginning of what the category can achieve with consumer recognition.’

Visit www.iwsc.net for full list of winners.

Three Wines UNDER 10

Emiliana Adobe Rosé £9.50

A mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah & Shiraz from the Rapel Valleys in Chile. This rosé is bright light pink in colour with intense fruity aromas, such as cherry and blackcurrant. Emiliana was voted by Wines of Chile as ‘Winery of the Year 2016’. Available in Bridport from www.selectedgrapes.co.uk

Specially Selected French Vegan Rosé £6.99

A South of France Special Selection for Aldi, this pale pink rosé offers rich fruit flavour with aromas of strawberry and raspberry and a hint of candyfloss. “Lovely example of a pale southern France rose—dry with a fresh and fruity finish—perfect on a warm summers day (or any day really)” www.aldi.co.uk

The Society’s Sicilian Organic White 2020 £7.95

From organically tended vineyards, many of which overlook the sea in western Sicily. A fresh, peach, chalk and salted-lemon scented white from a blend of 80% grillo and 20% carricante. “Definitely one to have for a party. Great balance of flavour and dryness without acidity.” www.thewinesociety.com