An award-winning north Norfolk hotel is hoping to sell 40,000 bottles of its wine a year after opening a vineyard in South Africa.
The Beechwood Hotel, in North Walsham, started winemaking at its 13-hectare Mellasat vineyard in in October last year.
The vineyard is located near Paarl in the heart of South Africa’s wine lands – around 45 minutes from Cape Town.
The country house hotel is currently selling 1,000 bottles of its wine a month in its restaurant and to other local businesses.
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Owner Hugh Asher said the hotel has “differentiated” itself from the competition by “daring to be different” with its winemaking.
“Opening the vineyard has been on my radar for many years,” Mr Asher, who grew up in South Africa before taking over The Beechwood Hotel with his wife Emma eight years ago, said.
“We sell ten types of wines: four white, four red, one rose and a champagne method sparkling wine.
“We’re famous for being the home of the White Pinotage. It’s a unique method of making white wine out of red grapes.
“We’ve differentiated ourselves from other hotels and restaurants by daring to be different.”
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The Mallasat White Pinotage is said to be the world’s first wine of its kind.
It is made with South Africa’s Pinotage grape, and has a slightly creamy, nutty character to balance tropical fruit and banana flavours.
The hotel sells its wine to clients all over the world and Mr Asher hopes the hotel can sell 40,000 bottles a year – 20,000 in the UK and the rest in South Africa and internationally.
“We’re starting to branch out by selling to other local businesses, hotels and restaurants,” he said.
“We invite customers to come and try our wines with our taster menu.”
The Beechwood Hotel has four Gold stars from the AA, and was recognised in two categories of Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards last year.
The wines are available to buy from the hotel's reception.
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