Given the less than perfect weather this year it was fantastic to see so many people attending the Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival. I went down at lunchtime on Saturday with the job of covering the wine side of things for The Observer, and managed to get a few interviews, and a few nuggets of wine gossip to share from knowledgeable, enthusiastic and thoroughly lovely professionals.
Nick Hales, the owner-chef of St Clement’s restaurant up at Mercatoria in St Leonard’s was offering Kedgeree to the festival-goers: a delicately spiced mix of locally caught gurnard and mackerel. Sublime.
Louise Brown, is currently finishing off her viticulture and oenology course at Plumpton and has just landed herself a job as assistant winemaker to Alex Carr Taylor at the family vineyard in Westfield.
The Alexis 2010 is Louise’s recommendation of the moment, and was (I am reliably informed by his mum) Alex’s first creation for the vineyard. There are great plans afoot gradually to grow French varietal vines at the vineyard, and there is a new Tasting Centre in the offing.
The event compere said there were forty-something stalls and companies represented at the Festival. This is testimony to the great number of locally based high quality food and beverage establishments; a real opportunity to showcase our local heritage and ancient trades.
Don't miss out on future Sussex food festivals - plan your visit now.
About the Author
Nick Perry is a contributing author to VisitSussex. For more of Nick's musings on the world of wine check out his sussexwinelist blog.
Nick's blog promotes all that is hip and happening about wine in Sussex. He spent time studying at the École du Vin de Bordeaux, holds Advanced Level certification by the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and is based in Hastings
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All blog posts
Sussex in the Spring – Published 14th May 2012
Regular Music II with Kaffe Matthews – Published 8th May 2012
Nice weather for ducks – Published 28th April 2012
Art Courses at Flimwell 2012 – Published 18th April 2012
Dog Walking in Sussex – Published 13th April 2012
Visiting Fishbourne Roman Palace – Published 11th April 2012
Sussex Observatory and Museums at Night – Published 2nd April 2012
Scotts forgotten legacy? – Published 29th March 2012
St Richard's Shine restored Chichester – Published 22nd March 2012
Brighton remembers Princess Charlotte – Published 13th March 2012
Celebrating 40 years of bluebell walks – Published 1st March 2012
Jerry meets Margo for Arundel Good Life – Published 18th February 2012
Silver Arrows racing at Goodwood Revival – Published 11th February 2012
BBC films Henry V at Arundel Castle – Published 8th February 2012
Sussex snowy garden scenes – Published 6th February 2012
Heelwalker praises Sussex walks – Published 2nd February 2012
Sussex Food & Drink Awards winners! – Published 30th January 2012
Return of the windmills – Published 20th January 2012
Chichester Harbour guide 2012 available – Published 9th January 2012
Brighton's Regency pleasure palace – Published 4th January 2012
Arundel's winter wonderland walk – Published 30th December 2011
Drusillas festive food parcels – Published 25th December 2011
Celebrate Xmas with a Sussex sparkling – Published 17th December 2011
Baby Colobus monkey born in Sussex – Published 14th December 2011
Take a festive dip in Arundel Lido – Published 5th December 2011
Sussex's 5 nominees - Coast Awards 2012 – Published 30th November 2011
Brighton B&B stars in TVs 4-in-a-bed – Published 20th November 2011
Chichester gains Fairtrade gold cockerel – Published 16th November 2011
SE awards finalist: Pelham House – Published 14th November 2011
Autumn's Blooming Fungi – Published 10th November 2011
Seasonal recipe: spiced pumpkin tart – Published 7th November 2011
Veteran cars make a run to Brighton – Published 6th November 2011
Streets of fire: Lewes bonfire – Published 2nd November 2011
Paul goes to: Brighton Sealife Centre – Published 28th October 2011
Carr-Taylor makes special xmas offer – Published 24th October 2011
Cathedral's glass wings unveiled – Published 21st October 2011
Brighton's most haunted house? – Published 18th October 2011
High octane thrills for Brighton – Published 14th October 2011
Autumn Food: Arundel's the place to be – Published 3rd October 2011
Wanted: Roman Palace Seeks Friends – Published 26th September 2011
Seafood and Wine: tasty Hastings event – Published 18th September 2011
The best events in Sussex this October – Published 14th September 2011
Horsham Big Nibble trail – Published 30th August 2011
Discover West Blatchington Windmill – Published 20th August 2011
Salvador Dali and Edward James – Published 15th August 2011
Goodwood Revival celebrates Spitfires – Published 9th August 2011
Flog It: Paul Martin heads to Bexhill – Published 5th August 2011
Sussex stoolball ladies tournament – Published 3rd August 2011
Sussex wine review: Bodiam Harvest 2010 – Published 31st July 2011
Spotlight: Great Dixter – Published 17th July 2011
Rediscover: Macdonald Max Gill – Published 13th July 2011
The Wey & Arun Canal restoration – Published 10th July 2011
Taste Test: Bolney Estates 2010 Rose – Published 5th July 2011
Giant animals sculptures for Borde Hill – Published 1st July 2011
Sussex-saurus: dinosaurs in Brighton – Published 27th June 2011
Rupert Everett speaks fondly of Sussex – Published 22nd June 2011
New eatery opens at The Stade, Hastings – Published 20th June 2011
Nick Blinko at Pallant House Gallery – Published 18th June 2011
Coming soon: it's Arundel Festival – Published 17th June 2011
Chichester harbour photography comp – Published 13th June 2011
Visiting the South of England show? – Published 9th June 2011
A beach on a rooftop! – Published 6th June 2011
Big accolades in Littlehampton – Published 31st May 2011
Hidden Journeys over Midhurst – Published 24th May 2011
Pallants nominated for deli of the year – Published 19th May 2011
Borde Hill Garden's Rise of the Rose – Published 16th May 2011
Brighton Festival is A-May-Zing – Published 7th May 2011
Must be British – Published 4th May 2011
Harvey's launch Royal Nuptial Ale – Published 19th April 2011
Great Gardens of Sussex – Published 15th April 2011
Lewes House Brotherhood and The Kiss – Published 3rd April 2011
