Treseren Drinks Receptions
Following a beautiful ceremony in our Wedding Room or al fresco under our Walnut Tree, part of the Treseren experience is to flow from the ceremony space into a post-ceremony drinks reception, where our team are on hand to offer our couple and their guests celebratory drinks. Whilst we have seen a trend for bespoke cocktails and mocktails, most couples choose a traditional flute of bubbles to raise a glass and celebrate their nuptials with their loved ones. We of course stock Champagne from the Champagne region of France, but we also offer a stunning, traditional method sparkling wine made on our doorstep in the sun-drenched banks of the River Camel, just 35 minutes from Treseren.
Camel Valley Vineyard
Known for their award-winning sparkling wines, Camel Valley have been producing world-class wines in their beautiful corner of Cornwall since 1989.
Team Away Day and Tasting
On a beautifully sunny June day, the Treseren Events Co-ordination Team set out to Camel Valley for a guided tour of the vineyard to see the process of how the wines are made.
Accessible by bike as well as car, the vineyard sits in the valley of one of the most scenic cycle routes in the UK. The Camel Trail runs from Padstow to Wenford Bridge, via Wadebridge and Bodmin on a 17 mile stretch of disused railway track that was originally the Atlantic Express rail route from London to the Westcountry. Today, there are plenty of bike hire options in Padstow and Wadebridge and we would absolutely recommend this cycling adventure for Treseren couples and their guests who stay with us for a long weekend or holiday in Cornwall following their wedding. The cycle route is mainly level and suitable for all cycling abilities and the views along the way and at Camel Valley itself are incredible.
Setting off on bikes from Padstow, the team took in the beautiful scenery of the Camel Estuary reaching Wadebridge for a quick break and coffee stop, before pedalling on to Camel Valley.
Inside Camel Valley
The views across the valley are stunning and make an incredible backdrop to the tour. Starting in the vineyard, Camel Valley’s Production Manager, Duncan showed us the vines and talked through the pruning methods to obtain the best yield of grapes. The story of Camel Valley from the beginnings in the late eighties with the journey of owners, Bob and Annie Lindo planting the first 8,000 vines and completing the first harvests and bottling process entirely by hand is an epic tale of hard work and dedication.
“We practically lived in the vineyard, doing all the work by hand, and when it came to harvest time, it was just us and a few friends for picking, then Bob would stay up all night crushing grapes. But we loved it, always striving for perfection in the vineyard and the winery, and then we won a medal in the national English Wine competition for our first wine, so we knew we were doing something right” – Annie Lindo
Seeing the grapes in the early stages of growth, it was interesting to hear how the rhythm of the seasons and the amount of sun versus adverse weather conditions affect each season’s crop and determine the amount of bottles produced annually.
Moving inside, we were shown the process from grape to pressing, bottling, labelling and finished product, where everything is done on site – just metres from where the grapes are grown.
Whilst some processes of the pressing, bottling and production have now been mechanised, the work of pruning 27,000 vines is still done by hand with attention to detail being the key note of the success of the wines. Harvesting is still done by hand and is completed by the team and volunteers. On average, Camel Valley produces 130,000 bottles per year and we learnt just how much time, energy and love goes in to creating each bottle of this stunning sparkling wine.
A sustainable choice
Camel Valley has a strong sustainability policy, giving back to the land where they grow. After vines are trimmed, they are mulched back into the soil at the base of the vines. The huge volume of grapes that are harvested creates a mass of grapes skins post-pressing and after the grapes are crushed, the skins go to the dairy herd on the farm next door.
Of course, with just under 25 miles from the vine and bottle to Treseren, there is a big plus for conscious couples who wish to avoid the road miles incurred by shipping champagne from France to Cornwall.
Since the first beautiful small wedding we hosted, we have proudly sourced as locally as possible. We are happy to offer such a fabulous fizz, not only to put a Cornish brand at the front and centre of Treseren, but to reduce food miles, carbon emissions and work with a company who, like us, puts sustainability at the heart of its business.
We recently featured Camel Valley in our Sustainable and Stylish wedding inspiration photo shoot, showcasing the very best of our sustainable offer at Treseren. Importantly, the incredible quality of Camel Valley matches its sustainable credentials.
Tasting Notes
One of the benefits of going on a guided tour of Camel Valley is that at the end you sample the delights of the vineyard, with the best of their wines and sparkling wines served on the terrace looking down across the vines and out across the valley.
High praise has been bestowed on Camel Valley’s excellent Brut in the press:
“Commanding flavours, ultra-fine bubbles and stunning freshness” Matthew Jukes, Mail Magazine
“You can’t go wrong with Camel Valley, a delicious, vintage fizz with as much complexity as a Champagne Grande Marque” Waitrose Weekend Magazine
“Fresh and pinging with a joyful sense of celebration” Olly Smith, Mail on Sunday
As a team we raise our glasses in support of these endorsements and give Camel Valley our massive Treseren team appreciation. We highly recommend choosing these beautiful bubbles to celebrate on your wedding day.
