A historic ginger wine made by a Sussex couple has won the highest accolade at the 2009 Great Taste Awards. Gran Stead’s Non-Alcoholic Ginger Wine – prepared from a recipe that can be traced back 150 years - picked up a three star gold award after undergoing rigorous taste tests by a panel of experts.

“We’re delighted to have Gran Stead’s Ginger recognised by the Great Taste Awards,” says Chris Knox, who with wife Rosemary runs the family business from Mile Oak Farm in Portslade near Brighton.  “The awards are recognised as the Oscars of the fine food industry, and being selected for three star gold is a great achievement. The recipe for Gran Stead’s Ginger has been passed down the generations and we always knew it was very special – it seems the judges agree!”

Gran Stead’s Non Alcoholic Ginger Wine is prepared in small batches by Chris and Rosemary using only natural ingredients.  The original “Gran” was Christiana Stead, who was born in 1898 and lived in Middleton-in-Teesdale, Country Durham, where she made her famous ginger wine.  Chris’s parents, Len and the late Dot – long time devotees of Gran Stead’s Ginger - became custodians of Christiana’s recipe in 1994 and until 2003 production took place in the kitchen of their family home.  Increasing demand prompted a move to a dairy building at a local farm and, that same year, Chris, a former police officer, joined his parents in the business.  Now he and Rosemary – a trained nursery nurse - handle production, marketing and sales, and the couple spend most weekends selling their ginger wine at farmer’s markets and country fairs.  

Gran Stead’s Ginger can be bought at over 300 retailers throughout the UK.  Find your nearest stockist or buy on-line from www.GranSteadsGinger.co.uk.

About the Great Taste Awards
The Great Taste Awards, which is organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is now in its 16th year and going from strength to strength. More and more consumers recognise the gold & black logo as the benchmark for independently proven, fine food.

The awards ceremony will take place at a glittering event hosted by specialist food and drink presenter Nigel Barden at Fortnum & Mason’s on September 7th, when the Supreme Judging Panel will taste all regional winners live in front of a packed audience to decide which entry is to be crowned Supreme Champion 2009. Blur bass player, farmer and writer Alex James, chef Mark Hix, and Thomasina Miers of Masterchef fame are among those already confirmed for the panel.

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