01885 490 768
info@fromevalleyvineyard.co.uk
About Us
Our Story
When we took over the vineyard in 2005, we were total viticultural novices! Our predecessors here had planted it some 15 years earlier, just at the very start of the modern English wine revival.
Our choice was to grub it up or carry on – we threw ourselves into it!
The more we learnt about this young and new (certainly to us!) world of vine growing and wine-making, the more fascinating we found it, and it became a new way of life. As our experience and knowledge grew, our family has grown too. From mowing the vineyard to manning the stalls at fairs and showing our visitors round, everyone is finally old enough to pitch in!
Our Vineyard and Terroir: Why Herefordshire Matters
The vineyard is tucked into a curve of the River Frome, giving our vines a sheltered microclimate ideal for the vines. The clay loam of our soil shapes the character of our award-winning wines. At latitude 52 degrees north, we sit on the edge of what has been traditionally considered viable.
However, with climate change, the challenges have changed. Late frosts in May, hitherto very destructive, are far less common. But increasingly dry summers are proving tricky for younger, less well-established vines.
Sustainability: How we grow our Grapes
From the beginning, we have tried to tread as lightly as we can.
From mulching the rows to preventing disease, we have looked for ways to make the least environmental impact. We prune and harvest by hand; in the winter, the Wiltshire Horn flock multi-task as they “mow” the vineyard and fertilise it at the same time. We were among the first small vineyards to sign up to the WineGB Sustainability Project that aims to ensure the whole UK wine world, from vine to bottle, is as sustainable as possible.
Our approach extends across the whole property. All our heating is biomass and the solar panels contribute to our electricity. Our vegetable garden makes us almost self-sufficient in fruit and veg, and even the sheep make the occasional contribution to the freezer!
Beyond the vineyard itself, the cider orchard is entirely organic (just not registered); we created a large pond which is a haven for wildlife, and a lot of our land is laid down to permanent pasture and woodland, sequestering a good deal of carbon.
Discover our Vineyard Tours
Come and see the vineyard for yourself! Join us for a tour and tutored tasting, and taste how delicious our award-winning English wine and cider is. One of the family will normally lead the tour and walk you through this most beautiful part of Herefordshire and share the highs and lows of growing grapes here!
