Production

The organic vineyard was planted in 2002 and the first crop of grapes were harvested in October 2005. The first vintage is now almost sold out with the 2006 vintage now available. The vineyard is one of the few in the UK that has been developed under the Soil Association Organic standards where no inorganic fertilisers, herbicides nor pesticides have been used.

The wine is made at Mumfords Winery in Batheaston which has been making wine for over 20 years. The winery is certified by the Soil Association to produce organic wine following strict organic standards. The amount of free sulphur remaining in the wine (which is added to stop the fermentation process) is kept to below 30mg/litre which appeals to some wine drinkers who suffer from headaches when drinking non-organic wines with higher sulphur content

In the vineyard a legume/grass cover crop has been planted within the vine rows that improves the soil fertility, reduces weed problems and encourages the natural insect predator population. An area of Russian Comfrey (Symphytum. asperimum) has been planted which, when composted, produces a nutrient rich foliar fertiliser that is sprayed on the vines through the summer according to needs based on regular foliar and soil analysis.

The vineyard is located on a south facing slope and measures to encourage the return of larks to the area have been put in place such as the planting of a hedge/windbreak using a selection of local trees and bushes and the development of a pond/wetland area to encourage the population of nearby located great crested newts. A range of traditional varieties of fruit trees have also been planted.