Slideshow

Grape Britain: 10 unlikely vineyards in the UK

07 December 2016 By Liam Kelly

With the news that the UK is set to become a major exporter of wine by 2100, we look at some of the more unusual places that British producers are growing grapes.

While production of sparkling wine is already flourishing in the south, there are maverick winemakers all over the country.

Click through for our pick of the best of British…

Leventhorpe Vineyard (Leeds)

George Bowden bought what would become his five-acre vineyard after noticing on a particularly harsh winter day that snow on the south-facing slope had already melted in the sun. He and his wife Janet have been building on Yorkshire’s Roman winegrowing tradition since 1985, mainly producing still and sparkling whites.

Château Largo (Fife)

Professional chef and food writer Christopher Trotter is responsible for the most northerly vineyard on our list, and started planting vines when a friend told him that climate change would leave Fife with similar weather to the Loire valley. He started by planting Rondo and Solaris grapes in 2012. Unfortunately, he had to admit that the first vintage was “not great” but remains upbeat about the future.

Llanbadrig Vineyard (Anglesey)

The most northerly vineyard in Wales has been growing seven kinds of grape on hills overlooking Cemaes Bay on the Isle of Anglesey since 2000. The Phoenix, Regent and Rondo grapes are able to grow because they are planted 45 metres above sea level in gravelly soil.

Holmfirth Vineyard (Yorkshire)

Established in 2007, Holmfirth is a seven-acre vineyard in Huddersfield that produces fruity reds, dry rosés and floral whites, and now attracts thousands of visitors to take tasting tours every year. Owner Becky Sheveling had to deal with a fire in October, but hasn’t let it disrupt her wine business.

New Hall (Essex)

The Greenwood family started planting vines on their Essex farm in 1969, making it one of the oldest vineyards in England. Piers Greenwood, a second-generation winemaker, was named UK Vineyard Association Winemaker of the Year in 2013 and 2015. New Hall produces mainly white wines, including their famous Bacchus.

Ancre Hill Estates (Monmouthshire)

Richard and Joy Morris have grown grapes for more than 10 years at Ancre Hill in the Wye Valley, south Wales. The duo expanded their operations earlier this year, and their estate produces a wide range of white, red, rosé and sparkling wines.

Forty Hall (London)

This volunteer-run vineyard in Enfield, north London, was launched in 2009 and says it is the capital’s first operating on a commercial scale since the Middle Ages. From its 10 acres of vines you can see Canary Wharf and The Shard, while its profits from sales of still and sparkling wine are used to help fund social enterprise projects.

Hencote (Shropshire)

The newest vineyard on our list, Hencote has more than 22,000 vines planted across 16 acres of western English countryside. Andrew Stevens, who owns the estate, was until recently the CEO of a commercial bank and hopes to turn Hencote into a big player in English sparkling wine.

Laurel Vines (Yorkshire)

Planting vines in a tiny East Yorkshire hamlet since 2011, Laurel Vines and Winery has increased its grape harvest to eight tonnes this year, and owner Ian Sargent is hoping that among them will be grapes for his first-ever red. Its 2013 vintages won one silver and two bronze medals at the Mercian Vineyards Association challenge awards.

Townhead Farm (Cumbria)

Situated at the foot of the Pennines, Townhead Farm is the northernmost English place on our list, and the only commercial vineyard and winery in Cumbria. Ron Barker has been producing wine there since 2007 after a career as an environmental geophysicist. The winery produces some unique elderflower and rhubarb wines.