Thursday 16th October, 2003

BRITISH WINEGROWERS WIN FRENCH PRAISE

British vineyard owners have scooped top awards in France for the second time this year.

Betty-Ann Cundall has followed a clutch of gold, silver and bronze medals for her Provencal wines with two stars in the latest edition of Guide Hachette, while David Meakin was awarded a Coup de Coeur for his Coteaux-du-Quercy AOVDQS Rouge 2001. Commented David: "I always said I would retire when I won the Coup de Coeur from the Guide Hachette, but now I am concentrating on trying to win another."

A total of 122 wines from 76 vineyards listed by winedrive.com have been given commendations in the 2004 edition of Hachette, the 'wine Bible' of the French wine industry. They include 12 Coup de Coeurs, 20 with two stars and 60 with one star.

Said Maurice Carroll from Winedrive's French office: "Hachette is one of the most respected references for the industry, so achieving such a high a standard just confirms the exceptional quality of wines available form our selected vineyards. More than three years research went into these lists so it not surprising that they consistently come out on top."

Only the best wines judged by independent panels make it into Hachette, so achieving star ratings is seen by vineyard owners as a significant and highly valued accolade.

The winning wines include 58 from the Rhone Valley and Burgundy, 25 from Bordeaux and 20 from the Loire Valley.

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