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Wednesday 20 January 2016

Bancroft Wines announces new English Sparkling wine: 'Pelegrim' from Westwell Fine English Wine in Kent

We're delighted to announce that from January 2016 we will be offering a new-to market English Sparkling wine from Westwell Wines in Kent.



The wine, under the name of Pelegrim will be sold primarily to the on-trade. Bancroft will represent Pelegrim exclusively outside of Kent within the UK. It will be priced to bridge the gap between a Prosecco and a Champagne on a wine list.

Founders of Westwell Wines, John and Rids Rowe comment:
“We are very proud to be partnering with Bancroft Wines Ltd. Our shared values, passion and reputation creates a fantastic platform to launch our on-trade inspired Pelegrim sparkling wine across the country.”

David Murphy, Head of Purchasing for Bancroft Wines comments:
“We are confident that the quality and stylish packaging is a winning combination and at the sharp price point will surprise and delight in equal measure. We look forward to kicking this new relationship off with a bang.”

Sophie McLean, Brand and Communications Manager comments:
“With a tremendous year ahead for the English Sparkling Wine category, I am delighted that we have picked up a fantastic small producer whose innovation on product is unique. It is very exciting to be working with something home-grown, knowing the muddy fields of the vineyards are only a couple of hours away.

English Sparkling Wine still has some way to go to shake off its oft-perceived ‘novelty image’ amongst consumers. This one in particular shows it doesn’t have to be inaccessible on price, and that it has every reason to rival the better-known traditional method wines from elsewhere.”

Information Westwell Wines
Westwell Wines is located on the chalky slopes of the North Downs below the Pilgrims Way near Ashford, Kent. The vineyards cover 18ha (5.5ha planted) and are positioned between 100-130m above sea level on a SSW aspect. The flint loams over the chalk provide good drainage as well as giving mineral characteristics to the wines, accentuating the fruit profile. All the wines are made by husband and wife team John and Rids Rowe using the latest equipment, with a low interventionist approach.

Production levels of the Pelegrim NV Extra Dry currently total 4,000 bottles a year.

Information on Pelegrim NV Extra Dry 
Pelegrim means Pilgrim in middle English (circa 12th century) and recognises the history of our forbearers that walked the Pilgrim’s Way above our vineyard for centuries on their final leg to Canterbury. This wine replicates this tradition in how the grapes are grown, selected and fermented.

Pelegrim is a traditional bottle-ferment (rather than tank fermented) sparkling wine using Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay with reserve wines from previous vintages to give further complexity and a consistent extra dry non-vintage style. The wines are lees-aged in bottle for 18-24 months to give depth and some biscuity aromas which only bottle-fermentation can deliver.

Pelegrim NV Extra Dry Tasting note:
Fine persistent mousse and bubbles. Amber colour with fresh aromas of apples, raspberries and sourdough with a full palate and a lemon twist at the end.

Pelegrim Packaging:
The style of the Pelegrim packaging reflects John’s Italian heritage. It is deliberately paired down against other English Sparkling Wines. It is presented in an eco-certified glass weight, open neck with cork from sustainably managed sources with pearlescent labels that are water and ice resistant.



the Pelegrim is Bancroft Wines’ only listed English Sparkling Wine in their 2016 Portfolio.

The Pelegrim NV will be on show at Bancroft Wines’ Annual Portfolio Tasting 2016 on the 9th February at the Westbury Hotel, Mayfair, and will be included in the 4pm ‘Focus on Fizz’ masterclass: ‘The modern face of Methode Traditionelle’. To sign up for the tasting or the masterclass, or to register for the tasting, please click here:

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