Have the successes of English wines (with a record 24 medals awarded at the International Wine Contest) whetted your appetite suitably? Or perhaps its the promise of a fine vintage to come in the UK? Theres definitely something in the air around UK wines this year, and celebrating their diversity and quality alongside events like English Wine Week (23 31 May) is the recently published unique guidebook entitled Grape Britain; A Tour of UK Vineyards, by David Harvey.

This 256-page, full colour book was based on a journey David made through many of the vineyards of England and Wales. Beautifully presented in modern style, the book marks the emergence of a distinctive and vibrant UK wine scene in style. It is not only a wine book, but an entertaining and unusual travelogue. David also helped with the research for Oz Clarke and James Mays TV series Oz and James Drink to Britain shown on TV earlier this year.

Something of a vinous Odyssey, the book began when its author David Harvey was so surprised to find a quality vineyard in Leeds that he quit his management job at Oddbins to spend a year travelling around England and Wales visiting as many vineyards as possible from the big Champagne challenger Nyetimber in Sussex to small producers like historic Parva in Wales. In this enlightening guide book, you will not only discover some wonderful vineyard settings, but also a wealth of information on the producing areas, the grapes, the wines themselves and how they are made and, most important of all, introducing the people who make them.

- ENDS

Notes to Editors

At the time of the Doomsday Book in the late 11th century, vineyards were recorded in 46 places in southern England, from East Anglia across to Somerset. By the time Henry VIII ascended the throne there were 139 sizeable vineyards in England and Wales. Adverse changes in the weather and the dissolution of the monasteries led to a gradual decline that has only recently been reversed.

Since the 1960s there has been a rapid increase in the number of UK vineyards with the total area under cultivation rising to more than 2,000 acres. Now a fully mature industry, it boasts unique wines and a wealth of exciting grape varieties. There are some 300 vineyards spread over the length and breadth of Britain and wine production is set to double in the near future in order to cope with the huge demand for its wines. This is in sharp contrast to the state of vineyards elsewhere in the world and is due to both improving weather conditions and to the improvements in winemaking ability and grape-growing in the UK over the past few years.

This is the one essential book you will need to learn about this fascinating and, until now, largely ignored corner of the wine world.

Contact:

David is more than happy to do interviews, signings, or answer any queries for English Wine Week and Grape Britain.

Please contact Sangeeta Laudus at The Little PR Company in the first instance if you have any queries regarding David, Grape Britain or require any further information.

Email: sangeeta@littleprcompany.com Telephone: 07984 486957

If you are interested in stocking the book, please email Neil Wilson at neil@nwp.co.uk

About David Harvey:

David Harvey writes on wine, music and history for various publications and now has his own small vineyard in the Peak District. He is currently engaged in writing a vineyard diary and getting his fingers dirty at Bothy Vineyard in Oxfordshire. He lives in London.

Search for Grape Britain online at http://www.whsmith.co.uk or http://www.waterstones.com, or in good bookshops, vineyards and Booth's Supermarkets.

ISBN 978-1-903238-45-5 Price ₤14.99