University's wine gets a new taste ahead of summer

26 May 2020

The Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) award-winning Cotswold Hills wine has launched a new rosé version.

Cotswolds Hills dry white wine is already sold in 75 outlets, including Gloucester Services and Midcounties Co-op. The wine is harvested at the University’s vineyard in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, with students involved throughout the process from grape to bottle to shop shelf.

The new rosé wine was made at the Three Choirs vineyard in Gloucestershire by RAU alumnus Martin Fawkes, and as with the dry white, features beautiful artwork on the label designed by alumna Sophie Cotton O’Meara.

Image of Rose wine bottle, showing artwork of black and white goose about to take off

Cotswold Hills is a student-run social enterprise, now in its fourth year, which provides RAU students with the opportunity to learn about vineyard management, grape varieties, wine production, marketing and finance, and help with the grape harvest.

The rosé has a delicate flavour produced from Rondo and Ortega grapes. It is also available to order online via the RAU Shop in cases of six or 12 at £15 per bottle. As an introductory offer, there is a 10% discount for purchases of 12 bottles (P&P £10 for up to 12 bottles). 

As with the dry white wine, proceeds from the sale of the new Cotswold Hills rosé wine will go towards the RAU’s Enterprise Programme, to help support students wanting to start their own businesses.

Patrick Lane, first year undergraduate student at the RAU and retail lead for Cotswold Hills, said: “I am very pleased that we now have a fruity rosé in our product range, all the better that it is just in time for the summer!"

More information about Cotswold Hills can be found on the website www.cotswoldhills.org.uk

The University’s award-winning Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme, provides a supportive environment for students to develop and launch their ideas.

In 2019 the RAU became only the sixth university, and the first specialist university, to be made a Centre of Excellence by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE).

New for 2020 the University also introduced a BSc (Hons) Rural Entrepreneurship & Enterprise course offering students the opportunity to gain the fundamentals of starting and operating a business under the guidance of specialist lecturers, practising entrepreneurs and industry mentors.