Devon’s Wickhams toasting award win

WINNING awards is always good for a company, but when a commercial venture is the new kid on the block then it can be particularly welcome. So this week has brought very good news for the newly fledged Devon company, Wickham Wines, which has just been shortlisted in the Newcomer of the Year and England and Wales Specialist categories at the prestigious Decanter Retailer Awards 2021.

And it’s a particularly big year for the awards which have seen a record number of entries.

Wickhams founder, Dan Farrell-Wright, commented: “Having launched in November last year, Wickhams is a new and innovative online wine and spirit merchant, so to be shortlisted in two categories and competing against established companies in such respected awards is extremely important for us and elevates our position in the wine trade.

“We’re passionate about knowing the story behind the wines we sell; more than 25% of the wines listed on our website are from England, the majority of which are from Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. As a South Westbased business, it’s a huge seal of approval that we’ve been included in the ‘England & Wales Specialist’ shortlist.” (See https:// wickhamwine.co.uk)

Seafood Festival in the Ocean City

DEVON seafood lovers are in for a treat this weekend as Plymouth Seafood and Harbour Festival returns. The free festival is a celebration of the sustainably caught fresh fish and seafood on offer in the community that nowadays likes to be known as Britain’s Ocean City.

According to the PR blurb: “It’s a brilliant opportunity to find out more about your local catch and learn from our amazing chefs, who will be cooking up a storm with fishy delights inspired from around the world. Visitors will be able to watch as some of the region’s top chefs create spectacular dishes in our cookery theatre, located on West Pier, by the Mayflower Steps.”

Stalls will line The Parade, Quay Square and West Pier, selling fresh dishes, as well as special treats to take away. Visitors will also be able to see trawlers and fishing boats and find out about life out on the ocean – as well as try tasty samples of the local catch.

WMN regular, North Devon’s Dan the Fishman, will have a larger-than-life presence at the festival: “I will be cooking for two days solid,” he told us. “And I will also be auctioneering some of the seafood on offer – so hope to see you there.”

Cove Rum

AS the evenings grow chilly, some folk might yearn for the old sailors’ favourite, a tot of rum. Now there’s a new Devon version of the classic drink on the market – Cove Vodka (the people who make vodka from potatoes grown on their own seaside farm in the South Hams) have launched Cove Rum, and it is already being met with great acclaim.

The oak-aged golden rum is created from molasses with locally produced Quince Devon Honey, cocoa nibs from their friends at Salcombe Dairy and the smoothest Devonia Spring Water.

“Best sipped over ice, Cove Rum has hints of orange blossom, smooth caramel, creamy light spice and a lick of tobacco with rich vanilla to finish,” says the blurb, which sounds very pleasant indeed... (www. devoncove.co.uk)