County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month October 2022

North Star – Bringing in this year’s wine harvest

This month has seen the start of the wine harvest for 2022. After a scorching summer, we have seen a turn in the weather which has seen many winemakers considering whether to take the grapes now or to push for a couple more weeks of ripeness to produce the best wine possible. If the winemaker holds off for the next few weeks, there is the increased risk of disease and also the loss of grapes from wild birds who equally love a ripe grape. It’s always a difficult call to make with so much riding on choosing the time to pick grapes. 

Wine of the Month – North Star 2017

For this month, I have chosen a sweet dessert wine from Nottinghamshire. Yes, Nottinghamshire – the middle of England! This wine is made by Tony Skuriat assisted by his wife, Veronica. They have been making wine for the last 45 years and he is very much a pioneer of English wine. I visited Tony last month when in the Midlands and enjoyed a tasting after initially enjoying the wine around seven years ago. 

Long-serving winemakers

Tony and Veronica are two of the longest-serving wine makers in the UK. The North Star wine is made using the same process as most other Ice Wines. These wines are typically from Germany or mainly now from Canada where the grapes have achieved a temperature of around -7 degree centigrade before picking. At this temperature the grapes are frozen and, when pressed, only produce a limited amount of sweet juice. Tony ages his North Star for at least two years on the lees to enhance its concentrated flavour. The grape used is called Madeleine Angevine, which is a white wine grape from the Loire Valley in France and is also popular in Germany, Kyrgyzstan and Washington state. It is also a relative of the popular Riesling grape.   

Eglatine Vineyard in Nottinghamshire grows still, sparkling and sweet wines.

Tasting notes from the winemaker

North Star is a multi-international, award-winning dessert wine, with a wonderful fruity bouquet, a smooth silky feel in the mouth and a superb, multi-faceted flavour, comprising elements of apricot, mango and marmalade.

Michael’s notes

This wine has such complexity, offering a great nose followed by a lovely taste of stone fruit and tropical notes together with nice body. It is rare to have such a depth of flavour from an English wine. Well done, sir!

North Star is a rare dessert wine made in the UK.

Food pairing

This sweet wine is the perfect after dinner digestive so is great with both desserts and a nice cheese board. My personal preference is with Blue Stilton as this is the same area designated for the making of this world-renowned cheese. 

Previous awards for North Star wine

• 2017 vintage 

• Bronze Medal IWSC London 2022

• 2014 vintage – Gold Medal Feminalise Paris 2018

• Silver Medal London Wine Competition 2018

• 2011 Steanowicz Trophy UK Wine of the Year 2013

• Gold Medal – UK Wine of the Year 2013

Plus, many more awards.

This is a great addition for your Christmas dinner together with your cheese board. The wine can be purchased online for £36 in a 375ml bottle at 11% ABV rom www.eglatibevineyard.com or www.brightonandhovewineclub.co.uk 

Michael Yeoman, Founder

www.brightonandhovewineclub.co.uk

English wine specialist and creator of award-winning Sussex grape spirit and brandy using the pomace from English wine production with Spirit of the Downs.