We are delighted to publish the winning entries of our recent competition to find the best limericks in praise of English wine, in celebration of English Wine Week (20-28 June).
The winner, none other than the Earl of Limerick himself, receives a deliciously effervescent prize comprised of three bottles of 2019 Chapel Down Sparkling Bacchus – a deliciously aromatic expression of England’s ‘own’ grape – and three bottles of award-winning Chapel Down Brut NV – a tasty blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier.
The three runners-up, Martyn Marriott, Bob Turvey and Tim Wardle, will each receive a signed copy of my book Drink More Fizz! in which many English sparklers feature.
The winning verses and those of the runners-up can be enjoyed below. Cheers!
There’s a myth that we need to debunk: That the wines made in Blighty are junk. We’ll show to the nation That real celebration Occurs when OUR sparklers are drunk For centuries the reign of Champagne Was the only thing people would deign To imbibe. White or pink? A superior drink. The French answer to pleasure or pain. Next thing they’re raising the ante And pushing the Asti Spumante Compounding our troubles With Italian bubbles And frankly unsparkling Frizzante. Then remember that awful palaver When we all had to drink Spanish Cava? If handed a flute Of Codorniu Brut, You’d squeeze out a smile and say ‘Rather’. Now no matter how widely you roam The answer lies closer to home Our downs and our wolds With their verdant green folds Are where the best sparklers are grown. So next time you’re hosting a guest Whose tastebuds you want to impress It ain’t no debacle To serve English sparkle And b+ll+cks to all of the rest. Earl of Limerick
There once was a writer called Ray Who found us good fizz for his pay He picked Chapel Down As the best one in town And was right as is always his way. Martyn Marriott
Let’s consider the English grape, Bacchus; It truly is one of life’s crackers. Good acid; high yield; Grows in any field, And produces great fizzy lip-smackers. Other grapes in the UK shine through; Pinots Noir, Blanc, and Meunier, too. With Chardonnay blended Taste buds are upended; The result is a heavenly brew. Of all vineyards, which one takes the crown, For producing wines of such renown From all of these grapes? Well – simply traipse To the wine shop and say: Chapel Down! Bob Turvey
It is said, some may go for Champagne, But we treat such a fizz with disdain. For a wine heaven-sent, Try the bubbles from Kent. You’ll drink it again and again. Tim Wardle
