Sustainable wines for events
Our Wine Journey
Over the last year, The Pink Elephant has worked behind the scenes to build and strengthen our brand. 2022 saw a brand remodel, including the arrival of our very own tablescaping merchandise, new partnerships with thriving small businesses and the launch of our Summer Picnic Boxes and Festive Winter Hampers. This drive to continually elevate and hone our craft led us into Our Wine Journey. From the get-go, we were in pursuit of a brand that could provide us with delicious wines, but more importantly, reflect our own brand’s values: sustainability and supporting small businesses. This led us to Bancroft Wines.
Founded by Adam Bancroft in 1990, Bancroft Wines is a distinguished wine company providing a diverse range of high-quality and authentic wines with heritage. Since their beginning, Bancroft Wines has committed to representing smaller family-run and / or managed wineries from around the world. These wineries share a common goal, they’re all trying to be as sustainable as possible, often leading the way with regenerative farming and regenerating old land that was not being used in any way, planting ancient varieties and determinedly leaving a positive legacy for their families, hence why sustainability and family-owned and managed is important and can work.
Choosing to partner only with producers who share Bancroft Wine’s passion for sustainability and organic practices, Bancroft Wines imports from 16 countries and represents 195 different award-winning wineries. More than a quarter of their 195 producers are either organic or biodynamic certified. In 2022, Bancroft Wines was named International Wine Challenge Medium Agent of the Year for the 2nd consecutive year, and already in 2023, they have been nominated as one of 5 best Wine Distributors in the UK by the International Wine & Spirit Competition. It goes without saying, The Pink Elephant are proud to be working alongside Bancroft Wines and are excited to introduce their selection of sustainable wines with all of our Event Styling Packages and The Pink’s Wedding Experience.
To understand the sustainable wine industry, it is important to be aware of the terms that arise with it. While organic wine refers to wines made from certified organically grown-grapes, free of pesticides or additives, biodynamic wine refers to a wine-making process which employs a more holistic approach, encouraging vineyards to be self-sufficient.
Picture: Selection of our sustainable wines
Sustainable wine centres around using environmentally-conscious approaches to reduce wastefulness, conserve water and maintain biodiversity. Despite being produced from grapes, most wines are not vegetarian and vegan-friendly. This is due to a filtering process – called fining - which occurs during the final stages. Fining agents such as milk proteins, egg whites, gelatine and fish bladder proteins are used to sift out the murky matter and give the wine its clear and transparent appearance. While milk proteins and egg whites are acceptable by most vegetarians, all four are off limits for vegans. But the good news is that today many winemakers use clay-based fining agents as well as activated charcoal to filter their wines, making them 100% vegan-friendly.
Through close collaboration with Bancroft Wines, The Pink Elephant has curated a palatable range of sustainable wines that are available with any of our Event Styling Packages. Our range of wines, including sparkling, rosé, red and white wines, are incredibly diverse and can be paired perfectly with any type of event or cuisine. Our Cap Classique sparkling wines come from the beautiful Franschoek area in the Western Cape of South Africa. An interesting fact – Cap Classique and Champagne are both made using the same traditional French method known as method champenoise. The only difference between the two is that the grapes are grown in different valleys! Offering L’Ormarins MCC Brut NV and the L’Ormarins MCC Rosé, both sparkling wines are deliciously fruit-forward and slightly more acidic than champagne. Pairing nicely with pork-centric dishes, our Cap Classique will perfectly accompany our selection of Spanish smoked lomo, Italian salami and fresh prosciutto which are offered in our platter menus. Fit for any occasion or celebration, be it a wedding, birthday party, baby-shower or a summer picnic, a glass of Cap Classique bubbly is the way to go.
Picture: Vineyards in Franschhoek, South Africa.
We boast an exciting array of white wines, ranging from Italy and Spain to Argentina and Germany. Our Spanish white wine, the Garnatxa Blanca, hails from the Terra Alta region – a vineyard that is “emerging as ‘one-to-watch’ among Spain’s wine-making regions”. Made from a variety of white wine grapes related to the red Garnatxa grape variety, this full-bodied dry wine is marked by low acidity, bright notes of citrus and a subtle herbal finish. The Garnatxa Blanca makes a bold partner for a wide variety of flavourful dishes, particularly Spanish cuisines, grilled aubergines and creamy soft cheeses. Our Event Styling Packages and The Pink’s Wedding Experience offer all of the above – enjoy some mouth-watering manchego cheese, chorizo, smoked lomo and juicy olives (all from Spain) and wash it down with a crisp glass of Garnatxa Blanca.
We have a selection of two different rosés which both come from the famous Côtes de Provence wine region in France. Our Tomares Ballus Rosé is pure and elegant in a stunning pale pink shade. Perfect for the summer, this light, slightly floral rosé - with notes of crushed raspberries and stoned fruits - is beautifully complemented by mixed tapas platters, French cheeses and fresh fruit. The Pink Elephant’s grazing platters , including charcuterie meats, artisan breads, filo pastries, fresh seasonal fruits and French camembert and brie - to name a few- pair wonderfully with this exquisite French wine and create the perfect foodie environment for any special occasion.
Finally, we have a range of four distinctive red wines – each one unique and delicious in flavour. From the Veneto wine region in Italy, our Pinot Nero DOC Venezia is a delicate and fruity certified organic and vegan wine. Pale ruby red in colour and with a bouquet suggesting berries, blackberry, plum jam and hints of liquorice, this charming red Italian wine goes together perfectly with The Pink Elephant’s assortment of Italian nibbles. From our delicious mozzarella and stracciatella cheese, to prosciutto and chorizo meats, olives and focaccia bread – enjoy this heavenly combination of wine and food that our event styling packages have been designed to provide.
The world of wine is an exciting, ever-growing phenomenon that The Pink Elephant is thrilled to be a part of. We collaborate closely with Bancroft Wines throughout the year, continually reviewing our current wine list and discovering which new and exciting wines can complement our event styling packages. To find out more about our delectable and diverse range of wines, please visit our full wine menu and join us on Our Wine Journey.
Written by: Gemma Parsons