Licensed B&B, Cornwall
We knew, when setting up the bed and breakfast, that being able to provide drinks with an evening meal would be the icing on the cake. We had stayed at a couple of places that had a license, and greatly appreciated being able to have a glass of wine at the end of a long day out.
We very quickly found quality producers locally, but because of Camel Valley's relatively small scale, we sometimes found supplies dried up between seasons. This meant that we occassionally had to turn to more conventional suppliers, and were selling French, Austrian and Spanish wines, particularly red, at various times of the year.
We looked again at our options early summer 2007, and realised that we had overlooked another very good vineyard in South Devon, Sharpham. We took a trip to see them, tried their range, and liked them a lot.
Happily, this now means that by buying from both vineyards we should be able to have solely English wine on our list throughout the year, and have removed all of the others from it. It has in the past been necessary to persuade some people to try the English wine, but once they have, there have been no regrets.
White Wine
Camel Valley Seyval 2005 - 10.0%
Temperature-controlled fermentation has resulted in a light, fresh and mouth-
wateringly crisp wine, with herbaceous aromas and a refreshing streak of acidity.
Camel Valley Bacchus 2006 - 12.5%
A modern Sylvaner/Riesling cross that produces wine with a distinctive fruity
bouquet, and a grapey flavour. Perfect with seafood.
Camel Valley Atlantic Dry 2006 - 12.0%
Aromatic, complex and smooth dry white wine with good balance, and a lovely finish. Developing beautifully in the bottle and supplied to many top restaurants.
Sharpham Barrel Fermented 2005 - 11.5%
100% Madeleine Angevine. One of the few English wines to be fermented in new
oak barriques. Reflecting the excellent vineyard conditions in 2004 the aromas and
flavours are complex and balanced, giving a wine that has great finesse.
Red Wine
Camel Valley Red 2006 - 12.0%
Fruity red made from specially selected, handpicked Triomphe, Dornfelder and Pinot Noir grapes. A long cold maceration time allowed maximum fruit extraction and a pleasing cherry colour.
Sharpham Red 2006 - 11.5%
Dry red made from Dornfelder and Rondo grapes. Three days cold maceration
followed by fermentation on the skins has resulted in a beautifully deep, garnet
coloured wine. It is aged in oak barrels giving a firm structure which is balanced
by vibrant, rich, black fruit flavours.
Rosé Wine
Camel Valley Rosé 2005 - 11.5%
Easy-drinking wine made from a blend of Triomphe, Pinot Noir and Dornfelder
grapes fermented on their skins to extract flavour and colour but not tannin. A lusciously dark rosé with intense strawberry aromas.
Sparkling Wine
Camel Valley Brut 2003 - 12.0%
Traditional Method Quality Sparkling Wine, a fresh and fruity fizz, perfect for all celebrations. The only British Gold in
the 2005 International Wine Challenge presented at VINEXPO in Bordeaux.
Beers
Skinner’s Betty Stoggs Bitter - 4.0%
Classic pale amber mid-strength bitter, with distinct hoppy overtones.
A beautifully balanced quaffing ale. CAMRA Supreme Champion of
Cornwall 2005 - 2006.
Skinner’s St Piran’s Ale - 4.5%
Strong tasting, refreshing golden ale which is not too sweet. Styrian
Golding hops are used to give a superb finish and distinct flowery aroma.
Skinner’s Cornish Lager - 5.0%
Light, clean tasting, beautifully balanced strong lager beer. Naturally
brewed using the finest Cornish Barley, Wheat Malt and English and
American Hops.
Ciders
Cornish Orchards Farmhouse Cider - 6.0%
Careful selection of apple varieties such as Collogett Pippin, Hockings Green,
Lord of the Isles Tom Putt and Tommy Knight (to name just a few) are pressed
and fermented at the farm, then sweetened with apple juice to produce a
refreshing, mellow and fruity cider. Taste of the West Gold Award 2006.
Cornish Orchards Renascence 2004 - 7.4%
An elegant cider matured in oak barrels with a rounded, fruity flavour and
a lasting dry finish. Created using ancestral methods with the help of modern
wine production techniques, this cider has all the complexity of a select white
wine. A perfect accompaniment to white meats and fish.
