Vida Nova

It is hardly a secret that Sir Cliff Richard owns a rather fine Quinta in the Algarve. Perhaps less well known is that he has a great love of wine, and that in 1998 he recruited some of the best wine experts, people like David Baverstock, Dr Richard Smart and Tim Stanley-Clark to help him develop the vineyard that came with the property he bought in 1993. A small amount of the 2000 harvest was bottled and kept for private tasting, and The News received one of these rare bottles. To do this new wine justice, we chose to share this with one of Portugal's leading international Chefs, Dany Dagher , Executive Chef at the Lisbon Sheraton (along with General Manger Jennifer Buhr), who created a special meal to accompany the tasting of this new wine. The meal was excellent, as you would expect, but the real surprise lay in the wine. Ask any wine 'expert' and they will tell you that the Algarve does not produce a red wine of any notable quality, let alone a world class wine. Perhaps the rules have just been changed.

The Head waiter of the Alfama Grill, Sr Americo held the wine up to the light. Not from the Algarve he said in very certain terms. An Algarve red is light in colour and heavy in alcoholic content”. The first taste left him with a very puzzled look on his face, a combination of admiration and total surprise. How had this been achieved? How could Cliff Richard, a household name, and a man Knighted for his music, but certainly not for winemaking, lay new ground rules for wine production in Portugal’s southernmost province? When Cliff bought Quinta da Moinho some eight years ago, it was a run down property west of Albufeira, in need of a lot of attention. One of the features he discovered was that the property came with a vineyard, or to put it more accurately, some vines. Once the house had been refurbished, Cliff fell in love with the idea of a recreating the vineyard, starting from scratch. As you sit in the kitchen today, you look out over the vineyard as it is now, even if the wine had not been a success, the vineyard is now a thing of beauty on its own. Neatly 'manicured’ vines stretch out in immaculate rows that even a British Guards regiment would be proud of. Each row is 2.8 metres wide, not a weed to be seen. It’s a lovely sight, and one much more reminiscent of the sort of vineyards you see in the world’s leading wine producing countries. One of the first people to be involved was David Baverstock, the winemaker at the hugely successful Esporão in the Alentejo. Prominent Australian viticulturist Dr Richard Smart was then persuaded to come to the Algarve and carry out a detailed study of the soil and climate in the new vineyard. There was agreement that there was no reason why the Algarve and this vineyard in particular, could not produce fine grapes and a wine of quality and character. With such eminent approval, the project went ahead, and in 1998 Shiraz, Aragonez (Tempranillo) Trincadeira and Mourvêdre were planted. Drip irrigation was installed, fed by boreholes on the quinta, and a vertical shoot positioning system was instigated by Baverstock, along with training the farm manager in canopy management.

Over a £100,000 has been invested in the vineyard so far, and the results lay before us at the Sheraton. It has to be admitted that this one unique bottle had been treated with some reverence. Driven to Lisbon from the Algarve the week previously, left to rest under lock and key in the General Manager’s office, and then decanted, according to Cliff’s instructions to breathe before we tasted it. At last the moment had come, had these years of work and investment paid off? Was this to be a wine to reckon with, the mould braking’ Algarve red? In a word yes.

The wine is a mixture of 50% Aragonez and 50% Shiraz from two year old vines. It had been aged for six months in used one year old French and American oak. The bottle we drank had been blended and bottled in May this year. Two well known wine writers have already tasted Cliff’s new wine, so what was their opinion? Christian Davis of Harpers wrote: Although the vines are still young, the wine shows characteristic sweet, berry and chocolate Shiraz characters with spicy aromatic plum fruit. Well integrated toasty oak compliments the rich ripe fruity palate which finishes with dry powdery tannins. Adam Lechmere of Decanter Magazine said the nose is laden with alcohol and sweet palate soft and fruity, with chocolate Shiraz Aragonez lending spice and aroma. But what did we think? What strikes you immediately is the bouquet, powerful and spicy. The Sheraton’s Executive Chef Dany Dagher categorised the wine as Sight: Deeply coloured Bouquet: intense, spicy. Taste: Full bodied, Earthy. Very concentrated flavour, hot aftertaste, suggesting high alcohol. What would Danny serve to accompany Vida Nova? I recommend this wine with dishes that are prepared in a tomato sauce i.e. spinach and ricotta cheese stuffed ravioli with fresh basil and tomato sauce; also a good marbled steak prepared medium rare, i.e. grilled new York Strip loin with ragout of porcini mushroom perfumed with fresh thyme. Also duck or goose will go well with a young wine.

We mere mortals, who simply enjoy wine, agreed with everything, it is indeed a very fine wine and one that anyone who appreciates wine should not miss. Sr Americo is still amazed that such a wine could come from the Algarve, but then we all know what the Lisboetas think about the Algarve!

Sir Cliff Richard celebrated the opening of his new winery in Portugal's Algarve on Saturday with a party for 150, a pig roast, and copious quantities of wine.

The evergreen singer – who the night before had sung to 25,000 on the beach – draped himself in the Portuguese flag while he welcomed his guests.

These included a cross-section of Algarve social and political life: the mayor of Albufeira, ViniPortugal president Vasco d'Avillez, wealthy businessmen, international jet setters like British TV supremo Cilla Black, wine industry players like John Halewood of Halewood International, and Richard's neighbours – from the Algarve, his Barbados mansion and his house just outside London.

Generous and plentiful glasses of Richard's Vida Nova Rosé were served as an aperitif. At 14% proof this added to the festive atmosphere, as did the aroma of two pigs being spit-roast at the end of the terrace overlooking the vineyards.

The Adega do Cantor (The Cellar of the Singer) winery, which stands outside the town of Albufeira on Portugal's south coast, is a joint venture between Richard and his long-standing neighbours and fellow growers Nigel and Lesley Birch. Their son Max is the third partner in the group.

Designed by Australian winery specialists Castle Rock Logistics, it uses the latest techniques – such as the company's patented mechanical plunger – for the gentlest possible handling of the fruit.

The head winemaker is the Australian David Baverstock, who is credited with turning round moribund producer Esporao in the Alentejo 12 years ago. Max Birch, 35, is assistant winemaker and general manager of the Albufeira venture.

Vida Nova, now in its third vintage, is a blend of Syrah, Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet. The rosé – produced mainly for the domestic market – is Aragonez, Trincadeira and Mourvedre. The partners are thinking of making a white wine with Verdelho, and a Reserva is at present in barrel. About 50,000 cases are produced.

The grapes come from Richard's own 8.5ha, and from the 16ha Birch vineyards. The tri-partnership – Richard has a 50% stake – stresses the importance of using native varieties and making a recognisably regional wine.

'We fight to keep Portuguese qualities to the wine – for example by using Aragonez in the blend, which is a classic hot climate grape,' Max Birch told decanter.com, adding that he was also 'looking at a grower who is planting Touriga Nacional further north.'

For his part, Richard said he loves tasting, but he defers to Baverstock at every stage of the winemaking process.

'I feel comfortable just growing the grapes and combining that with other people's gifts,' he said. 'It's like music: you may be the catalyst but you can't do everything.'

If wine producing started as a hobby for the multimillionaire singer, everyone is keen to stress it has gone well beyond that. With an initial capacity of 100 tonnes the winery design allows for quick expansion to a 300-tonne operation. Markets would also expand, although Vida Nova already sells very well in the UK supermarkets.

Above all the partners say they are trying to preserve a bit of the old Algarve. Albufeira, once a tiny fishing village, is now a sprawling tourist centre, where the rewards of winemaking are nothing compared to what you can get with a 30-chalet tourist complex.

'I grew up here,' said Max Birch. 'It's a shame everything is concreted over. I want to get back a little bit of what it was like in the 1960s.'

Cliff's wine Vida Nova (2004 vintage) has been awarded a Bronze Medal by the International Wine Challenge 2005.

The 2004 vintage of Vida Nova is now available in some branches of Sainsburys. It should be available in Waitrose by the end of July. Tesco are not selling in-store or on-line this year.

From the Sir Cliff Richards new reserve. Appearance: Bright, dark pink to onion skin in colour. Nose: Red fruits with notes of raspberry and strawberry. Palate: Intense with rich young fruit. Temperature: For serving - 10ºC Acompanyment: Chicken, Pasta, Spicy oriental foods. Bottles produced: 4700 bottles.

Vida Nova Tinto 2004

The 2004 growing season was characterised by a cooler than average month of August, which allowed the final grape ripening phase to proceed slowly and evenly, resulting in more highly-coloured and flavoursome fruit than in previous years. Fruit quantity was complemented this year with fruit from the younger Quinta do Miradouro vineyard. Picking started on 25 August. The weather was fine throughout the two weeks of harvest, and fruit quality was excellent - healthy grapes with good maturity. The Adega do Cantor winery was in use for its second year, and once again performed up to expectations in an intense vintage which tested the capacity of the winery to handle a larger harvest.

Vintage pop star Sir Cliff Richard is set for a summer comeback – with a smash hit wine rather than a song.

Called Vida Nova, the wine from the veteran crooner’s own vineyards will go on sale on Tesco.com at 8am on Thursday 31 July.

It is expected to repeat the success of last year when it became Tesco.com’s fastest ever seller, selling out in just 24 hours. Now Vida Nova is back for 2003 and Tesco.com has secured over 1000 cases of the fruity Portuguese red wine – twice as many as last year.

David Clements of Tesco.com said: “Once again, we’ve been besieged by fans wanting to know not just the day - but the very minute - the wine goes on sale, so they can be guaranteed a case of their favourite tipple. Last year, Vida Nova sold at the rate of a case a second and only sales of the new Harry Potter book have come close to rivalling Sir Cliff’s record. “

Speaking before he jetted off to his mansion in Barbados where he will be playing host to the Prime Minister and his family this summer, Sir Cliff said: “Last year’s supply of my Vida Nova wine was Tesco.com’s fastest seller ever, beating even the loo rolls off the shelves! I’m hoping for the same again with this year’s vintage.”

Although more cases are available this year, supplies of Vida Nova are still limited. Fans are advised to place their orders on Tesco.com’s dedicated wine website as soon as it goes on sale to avoid disappointment.

Carol Hall, President of Cliff Guaranteed Fan Club, said: " This year's Vida Nova will undoubtedly be another tremendous hit for Cliff. Last year’s batch sold out incredibly fast and many people were not able to get hold of a bottle, so this year’s wine will be just as popular. The wine is a must have for red wine drinkers, and certainly for all Cliff fans! “

Vida Nova - which means ‘New Life’ - comes from Sir Cliff’s own vineyards at Quinta do Moinho near Albufeira, in the Algarve region of Portugal. The latest vintage is a blend of 40% Aragonez, 30% Shiraz and 30% Trincadeira. The new wine has spent less time in the barrel than last year’s vintage and the result is said to be a more ‘elegant’ wine than its predecessor.

Vida Nova is the fulfilment of a dream for wine-buff Sir Cliff, who enlisted the help of world-renowned wine maker David Baverstock to oversee the entire winemaking process. Producing wine from their own vineyards is fast becoming a ‘must’ for celebrities. Other celebrity wine-growers include Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, actor Gerard Depardieu who has vineyards in France, film director Francis Ford Coppola who has vineyards in California, golfer Greg Norman who produces Australian wine, and British TV wine expert Jilly Goolden who has produced a Chardonnay and Shiraz from South Africa.

• Vida Nova will be available in cases of six for £50.94 (which works out at £8.49 per bottle) through the Tesco.com website from Thursday 31 July • The website address is www.tesco.com/wine

• The wine will be sold on a first come first served basis as stocks are limited and expected to sell out quickly

'We are pleased to announce the release of the second vintage from Sir Cliff Richard’s vineyards in the Algarve. 2002 provided an abundant harvest, yielding over 50,000 bottles of Vida Nova, nearly double the quantity made in 2001.

Picking started on 7th September, later than in 2001 as the growing season was cooler and the vines, now four years old, were carrying a much larger crop. The weather stayed fine until halfway through the harvest when the rains, which affected all the wine regions in Portugal, set in and the picking schedule had to be accelerated. Despite the adverse conditions during the latter part of the vintage good alcohol and sugar levels were achieved thanks to speedy harvesting and careful selection of the grapes.

As with 2001, the grape varieties were batch fermented and kept separate to assess wine quality throughout the fermentation and maturation stages. The final blend for the 2002 vintage is 40% Aragonez, 30% Shiraz, and 30% Trincadeira.

Due to the nature of the vintage, Vida Nova 2002 has spent less time in barrel than the 2001, and the result is a more elegant wine than its predecessor. It has a lively young garnet colour and on the nose it shows spicy red berry fruit aromatics. On the palate it is well balanced with good depth of fruit and fine supportive tannins. It is ready for immediate enjoyment and will continue to drink well over the next few years.'

PRESS RELEASE

8/8/2002 CLIFF FANS BESEIGE TESCO – TO BE FIRST TO DRINK HIS WINE

Vintage pop star Sir Cliff Richard looks set for a surprise summer hit with a sultry new number called Vida Nova. But Cliff isn’t jumping on the Latin music bandwagon – for Vida Nova’s not a song, but a fine red wine from his own vineyards!

And loyal Cliff fans, who certainly don’t seen to mind that Vida Nova is booze rather than bop, are besieging Tesco to try to reserve a bottle from the first supplies available in Britain. “It looks like this is going to be Sir Cliff’s most eagerly anticipated release for years,” said Carolyn Bradley of Tesco.com.

The supermarket’s Internet shopping service is putting a limited quantity of Vida Nova on sale from 12 August – weeks before any other British retailer. It won’t be available from Tesco stores because there’s not enough to go round and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Tesco.com has been inundated with requests from hundreds of Cliff fans desperate to find out when the wine goes on sale on its dedicated wine site.

“From the number of emails and calls we’ve received, it looks like this will be our fastest selling wine ever,” said Carolyn Bradley. "It should go down well with anyone who loves rich Portuguese reds – but they’ll have to be quick off the mark because Sir Cliff’s army of fans are determined to get hold of it and have somehow sniffed out the fact that we have it first.”

Speaking from abroad, Sir Cliff Richard told Tesco.com: “I am so thrilled that the critics have raved about the quality of my Vida Nova wine and that everyone is so keen to try it. Here's hoping they all enjoy my bottled sunshine!"

Carol Hall, President of Cliff Guaranteed Fan Club, said: "Ever since they heard that Cliff was producing a wine, the fans have been absolutely desperate to find out where they could buy it. I've been getting emails on the subject every day for months and I'm sure that the minute the wine goes on sale, Tesco.com will notice a huge surge in orders as fans flock to buy Vida Nova,"

Vida Nova - which means ‘New Life’ - comes from Sir Cliff’s own vineyards at Quinta do Moinho near Albufeira in the Algarve region of Portugal.

Said Carolyn Bradley of Tesco.com: “Congratulations to Sir Cliff because Vida Nova really is a good wine - a rich, fruity red, which goes well with red meat and is great for barbecues.” “It’s ideal, appropriately enough, for the Summer Holidays – but if anyone decided to save it to drink under the mistletoe this Christmas, that would be fine too.”

Vida Nova is the fulfilment of a dream for wine-lover Sir Cliff, who enlisted the help of world-renowned wine maker David Baverstock to oversee the entire winemaking process, from picking the grapes through to bottling the wine. Sir Cliff – who had a hit with “Mistletoe and Wine” - is the latest celebrity to sell wine from his own vineyards. Other celebrity wine-growers include actor Gerard Depardieu who has vineyards in France, film director Francis Ford Coppola who has vineyards in California and golfer Greg Norman who produces Australian wine.