Great Taste Nigel Barden Heritage Award

Nigel Barden Heritage Award presented to Womersley

The Great Taste Nigel Barden Heritage Award has been presented to Womersley Fruit and Herb Vinegars of Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire for its Golden Raspberry and Apache Chilli Vinegar. The award, presented to a producer who uses rare breeds or heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables, was created to encourage and reward food producers who celebrate and uphold traditional flavours and characteristics.

The award was presented to Rupert Parsons, MD of Womersley, in front of over 300 guests from the world of fine food at the Great Taste Golden Forks Dinner in London on September 8th. Rupert, the son of Martin and Aline Parsons who founded Womersley in Yorkshire in 1979 from their home Womersley Hall, has continued to innovate while still holding true to the values of his parents by making vinegars with home grown herbs and fruits which are recognised for their quality and versatility by many cooks and chefs.

Womersley Golden Raspberry and Apache Chilli Vinegar, like all Womersley’s products is made by hand with generous quantities of fruit to produce a rich luxurious finish.

Nigel Barden, broadcaster and chef, commented: “The Heritage Award goes to a product which comes from a family which has prestige and heritage in huge and equal amounts. Martin Parsons set up his business with his wife Aline, in 1979, in the South Yorkshire village of Womersley. Not only producing a host of magnificent vinegars, they also had two lovely sons who eventually took up the reins of the business. It’s now run in Chipping Norton by Rupert and his wife Jani, with brother Richard spreading the Parsons’ gospel in New South Wales. This is beautifully crafted vinegar, using the more unusual golden raspberry and underlining Scotland’s soft fruit heritage, as this is where they’re from. The small Apache chilli pepper is British grown and gives this vinegar a controlled, fiery kick, while still allowing the sweet raspberry fruit to sing out. It’s a fine fruit vinegar which is incredibly versatile.”

Womersley Fruit & Herb Vinegars 01608 646445 www.womersleyfoods.co.uk

The Nigel Barden Heritage Award was sponsored by Hider Foods, distributors of artisan and speciality food throughout the UK.