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Last year was one of the best our sector has ever seen. Before this, 2018 had been our last bumper year. WineGB, the industry body which we’re a member of, said 2023 was ‘near perfect’ for British wine production in terms of the weather, the subsequent harvest and the number of bottles produced. So, it’s going to be interesting to see how we all fare in 2024, especially with the warmer and very much wetter start to the year we’ve had so far. WineGB 2023 report WineGB’s post-harvest report celebrated what it believed was the largest-ever grape harvest to date in England and Wales. Conditions across the year were textbook for wine production. There were virtually no spring frosts, perfect flowering weather in June and, despite July and August being overcast and generally wet, in September and October, we had some very welcome late heat, which aided the grapes. ‘Miracle’ harvest This ‘miracle’ harvest was thought to have produced more than 20 million bottles nationwide and was 50% bigger than Britain’s previous record year in 2018. Once again, this year, frosts have been few and far between so far, but there’s still time to get some late ones and we’ve no idea how much warm or sunny weather to expect. WineGB said that top 25 per cent of vineyards recorded an average of 15.60 tonnes/-ha (6.31 tonnes/-acre) in 2023. Best four grapes The top four grapes that performed really well, with the average of all vineyards almost reaching 10 tonnes per hectare, were Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier and Bacchus . Yields have also risen as more vines have been planted. In the last five years, hectarage has grown by nearly 75% and hectarage in production today is more than 1,000ha higher than in 2018. How the data was gathered & compiled The data was collected from WineGB’s members and was gathered via a voluntary survey that 132 vineyard owners responded to. Producers and growers of all sizes, and across the wine growing regions in England and Wales, participated. Between them these producers grow 2,000-ha of vines with 1,700-ha of four years’ old or more, and therefore in full production. This represents 50% of the anticipated national cropping area for 2023. Stephen Skelton MW (Masters of Wine), who is a well-known UK viticulture consultant, compiled the report.
We’re very lucky in these parts to have lots of lovely asparagus grown on our doorstep. This year we’re celebrating National Asparagus Month, which is in May, with a blog all about this seasonal spring ingredient and how to pair of Bacchus wine with it. Asparagus can only be harvested for around two months each year in the key areas in the UK that grow it. Depending on the weather, the crop is traditionally picked from around St George’s Day, April 23, and harvesting ends on June 21, the longest day of the year. Harvesting time May is its peak harvesting time and it’s all the more delicious when it is picked just a few miles down the road from you and arrives on your plate within a few hours of leaving the farm. You can’t get any fresher than that! In Herefordshire, we find it’s so popular that the crop gets eaten up very quickly and in fact it’s pretty much just May when you can find fresh, locally grown asparagus in farm shops and on restaurant menus. So, if you want to be sure to get your fix of the freshest, be fast off the mark! History We weren’t the first to eat it, the Greeks and Romans bagged this title some 2,000 years ago. Not only did the ancients like its flavour and texture but, apparently, they also recognised its medicinal properties. Legend has it, Julius Caesar was a purist and loved his asparagus with just a hint of melted butter. Health benefits But is it good for you? Yes, it certainly is. This little veggie is packed full of folic acid and antioxidants. It’s high in fibre and rich in vitamins A, B, C, E and K too. Perfect for your skin and hair, among many other health benefits. How to pair it with wine But how do you match English asparagus with English wine? Asparagus, like artichokes, is tricky to pair with wine. It contains a high level of chlorophyll, which gives its flavour. However, alongside other acidic compounds it contains, it can make wines taste harsh. But the good news is that there are plenty of wines that do work well with asparagus depending on how you cook it and what other ingredients you use. Check out this online article here on the Decanter website to find out more. For example, if you’re a purist like Caesar and like to lightly steam or boil your green asparagus, which is also one of the simplest ways to cook it, then our Bacchus works well with it, thanks to its complimentary grassy flavour profile. Recipe ideas Looking for some wonderful asparagus dishes to try out? Check out this page on the Delicious Magazine website for lots of ideas. It also offers hints and tips on picking your asparagus bundle at the shop and how to store it.
As the evenings draw out and we head towards May, it’s time to turn our thoughts to alfresco entertaining. Here’s how to make sure you have a party that’s well organised and more ecofriendly too. Set the mood with some lighting and make the evening last longer – opt for large lanterns with candles inside and a few welcoming tea lights on your table. Don’t forget citronella candles to help keep the bugs at bay. You could also use solar powered lanterns too. Think British and local when sourcing your party drink and food – if you can’t grow your own, look for in season produce, such as British lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes in the summer and find your nearest farm shop. Ready-washed bags of salad and wine from overseas use up a great deal of energy to get to us. If you’re using meat, buy it from a nearby butcher too. Buying locally helps reduce your carbon footprint and means you’re supporting businesses in your community too. Help with recycling by labelling a couple of bins for glass and cans, so people know where to pop their empties, if you’re opting to serve your drinks like this. The best eco-option is to use crockery that can be washed with ease, and without using too much water, and re-used. If you’re not using your own linens, glassware and china, go for biodegradable cups, plates and cutlery to ensure your waste isn’t adding to landfill. Ideally, opt for something you can pop on your own compost heap.
When you’re entertaining at home and celebrating a special occasion, it is essential to make sure you create the right ambience for your guests. Table From the outset you need to decide if you’re colour coordinating or mixing and matching two or three different colourways with your tablecloth, napkins and the cutlery, glassware, and crockery you are going to use. Keeping it simple by using an off-white and grey/silver palette can look very appealing. Cover your table with a crisp white linen tablecloth and add handwritten place cards for a personal touch. Seating You’ll need to make sure you have enough suitable chairs before the event. If space it tight, benches or stools can be a great alternative, as they are more compact. Lighting You can set the scene with distinctive lighting. Warm white fairy lights casually used can look great. Candles also work well, and you could incorporate them into your table centrepiece. Tea lights in statement holders, can enhance the atmosphere. You should consider switching off any overhead lights and use free standing lamps instead, but make sure there is enough light for people to see what they are eating. Centrepiece Selecting a centrepiece is a difficult thing to do as it really needs to be a showstopper, but it shouldn’t take up too much space or obstruct talk across the table. Try using low vases or candle holders. Even lovely old jam jars can look great. For an organic look, use a combination of snipped branches and evergreen foliage from your garden or a florist. Sprigs of herbs look great and wildflowers are all the rage. They represent understated chic, but don’t overdo the foliage foraging, or it’ll ruin the hedgerow habitat for wildlife. Ambience Have some suitable music, something people can talk over that isn’t too obtrusive, but gives tone to the event, on in the background. Wine Don’t forget to order your wine too. Buying an English wine can be a great dinner party talking point.
If you’re new to the art of wine tasting, and you’ve made a New Year’s Resolution to get into it, then you may be bewildered by the terminology. But it needn’t be baffling, especially if you use our handy guide below. In fact, the terminology helps describe a wine, so it allows you to get to grips with what you like and what you don’t. It’ll also help you understand wine reviews and labels. So, let’s get started… What’s a vintage? This is when the grapes were picked. The year they were picked in. Most bottles are marked with a single year, as most wines come from one year. But sparkling wines are generally created from several years, so are non-vintage. You can, however, see vintage sparkling wines when there’s a particularly good year. Go for the nose first when tasting Always start with your nose. Don’t be tempted to take a sip first. Swirl the wine around in your glass and put your nose to it. A wine’s nose is its aroma, which can be citrus, earthy, fruity, vegetal, floral or spicy. Legs mean alcohol content When you’re swirling your wine, look at the streaks running down the inside of the glass. These are the legs. More legs mean a higher alcohol content. The slower the legs move, the sweeter the wine. Next, it’s the body How a wine feels in your mouth is its body – this might be full, medium or light, depending on alcohol and sugar content. Check out the acidity You know how a lemon tastes? Well, this is what acidity is. The ripeness of the grapes reflects the acidity levels in a wine. Ripeness depends on the climate, so grapes grown in cooler climates may be more acidic. Taste the tannins Tannins, which you may have heard about in tea too, come from the grapes’ seeds and skin. They can cause some wines to leave a dry taste in your mouth. Oakiness This refers to wines that have been aged in oak barrels. This can affect their colour and flavour. Popular with red wines, adding a smokiness and depth of colour, barrels can also be used to give white wine a taste that’s slightly creamy with hints of vanilla.
Wassail is the old English term for toasting someone’s health. Anglo Saxon used to start every year with the lord of the manor toasting the multitudes with the words waes hael, meaning ‘be well’. You can enjoy a cup of Wassail, which is a spiced ale or mulled wine, right up until Twelfth Night, January 5. However, traditionalists insist it should be celebrated on ‘Old Twelvey’, or January 17, so there’s still plenty of time to indulge. Here’s our recipe for the perfect cup or two of wassail: 3 red apples 3 oz brown sugar 2 pints brown ale, apple juice or cider 1/2 pint dry sherry or a dry white wine like our Bacchus 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger strips or lemon peel Core, then heat the whole apples together with the brown sugar and some of the ale or cider. Gently heat on a low oven for 30 minutes. Remove and place in a large pan, adding the rest of the spices and lemon peel, then simmer for 5 minutes. Add most of the alcohol at the last minute so it warms up but does not evaporate. Burgundy and brandy can be substituted for the ale and sherry. White sugar and halved oranges may also be added to taste. This recipe makes enough for eight people to have one cup each.
Choosing the right wine for your next big event can be a daunting task. English wines are now a reliable, palate pleasing choice, and not only do they taste great, but they are also better for the planet too. English wine types English wine is either still/traditional or sparkling. It can be sub-divided and categorised further based on the region where the grape is grown, the variety and the method of production. Grape varieties Several varieties of wine making grapes are now grown in England including Pinots, Chardonnay and Riesling. Bacchus, which we grow, is one of the most popular for traditional wine. It gives citrus notes that go well with seafood. It’s a comparatively new grape. It originated after varieties were crossed to create a grape suited to English weather, and it definitely does well here in Herefordshire. Bacchus wines are acknowledged for their floral aromas, crisp acidity and tropical fruity flavours. The other grape we grow for our wine here in the vineyard is Ortega. It’s another white grape like Bacchus and is popular in England. It makes what are known as off-dry wines that have a smidgen of remaining sugar. It’s a cross between Muller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe. It’s crispness, floral character and stone fruit flavours make it a great wine to quaff all year round. What makes English wine exceptional? There are several reasons why English wine is becoming increasingly popular. Award-winning English wines now win international awards and are becoming well-known worldwide. Our wines have won British awards. Our Ortega 2021 was recently selected as one of the top 100 wines in the UK at this year’s Vineyard & Winery Show. It was picked by renowned wine writer and author, Matthew Jukes and WineGB, the trade body for British wines. Production Winemakers like us and our contemporaries in England, tend to use traditional, time-honoured techniques. We hand-pick our grapes for quality control and press them gently. Soil & climate We might not feel lucky with our weather, but English rainfall levels coupled with warm days and cooler nights, plus a lengthier growing season from April until October, are ideal for growing grapes like Bacchus and Ortega. Add into the mix our loamy soil, and this is what gives English wine like ours its standout flavour. Sustainability By buying wine made closer to home, in your own county or country, you’re reducing the number of miles it has travelled and the cost environmentally of that travel in terms of energy use and potential pollution.
Christmas is a joyous time of year, but it can also feel a little bit frantic. We’ve popped together a few little handy hints on how to keep grounded, serene and jolly as we head into one of the busiest times of the year. Get out into the fresh air A good walk outside in the open air is great for clearing the head and lifting the mood, whatever the weather. We enjoy a turn around the vineyard whenever we can. It helps us take stock, make plans and enjoy the moment. Acts of kindness Little acts of kindness have a positive effect on those around us as well as boosting our own well-being. Giving back in your neighbourhood, joining community initiatives, volunteering and helping others can: ‘Help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends, and connect with our communities. Face-to-face activities such as volunteering…can also help reduce loneliness and isolation,’ says the Mental Health Foundation . Make time for yourself We all spend the festive season ensuring our loved ones have all they need, but make sure you have time to yourself to do the things you enjoy too. Whether that’s doing some yoga, going for that walk, or having a chat over a coffee or a glass of wine with friends. But please make sure you drinkaware .
A beautifully dressed Christmas tree – whether faux or fresh – is the focal point of any festive scheme. This year take some time out over a glass, or two, of wine to consider your style and the space you have before selecting your tree and decorating it. Follow our simple guide below. In rooms with low ceilings smaller trees are just as charming. Bay rooms, windows and hallways are great places for well-dressed trees. If you have an open fire or log-burning stove keep your tree away from these. Mix and match your fairy lights – use warm white lights on the inner parts of the branches and then use coloured lights on the outer areas. Drape delicate garlands in the branches. Hang your favourite decorations first so they have pride of place. Tuck small pressies and sweet treats into the branches too When you have finished, sit back, relax and enjoy. And pour another glass of wine.
From the outset, decide if you are colour coordinating or mixing and matching two or three different colourways. You might also want to go for a theme. Select your tablecloth and napkins first, then your cutlery glasses and crockery. Match or mix it up to suit the textiles you have chosen. Mismatching to give a contrast can be impactful too. Handblown glasses For a contemporary country feel, go for handblown wine and drinking glasses, linen, organic shaped tableware and seasonal foliage from your garden, or nearest florist. Keeping it simple by using an off-white and grey/silver palette can be stunning too, while linking with the natural world and great outdoors is definitely on-trend this Christmas as well. Cover your table with a linen tablecloth and add handwritten place cards, named individual gifts, or Christmas decorations, for a personal touch. Make sure you have plenty of suitable chairs before the event. If space is tight, benches or stools can be a great alternative, because they are more compact. Setting the scene Set the scene with distinctive lighting. White fairy lights, casually used, can look great. Candles also work well, and you could incorporate them into your table centrepiece. Tea lights in statement holders, can enhance the atmosphere too. You should consider switching off any overhead lights and use free standing lamps instead, but make sure there is enough light for people to see what they are eating. Selecting a centrepiece is a difficult thing to do as it really needs to be a showstopper, but it shouldn’t take up too much space or obstruct talk across the table. Try using low vases or candle holders. Natural look or baubles For a fresh, natural look, use a combination of bare branches and evergreen foliage from your garden or a florist. Eucalyptus, ivy and rosemary sprigs that have a silver tinge can work very well together if you have gone for a white/grey theme. Alternatively, fill a large clear vase, or a decorative dish, with silver, gold or coloured baubles to compliment the colour scheme you’ve gone for. Food, drink & music Next think carefully about the food and the wine you’re going to serve and create your menu so you can buy in all the items you’ll need in good time. White wines go best with dishes featuring white meats like turkey, as well as seafood and those based around cheese. They are lighter and more refreshing than many red wines too. It’s always a good idea to order your wine well in advance and to get something that will encourage conversation with your guests. Our wines are artisan and English, so are always interesting to chat about. You’ll also be supporting a British maker and keeping your drink miles down by serving something that hasn’t been flown halfway around the world to reach your table. Once you’ve sorted your tablescape out and what you’ll be serving, you can think about creating your festive playlist featuring some great tunes that you can talk over and aren’t too intrusive.
About
Our award winning vineyard nestles at the foot of the Malvern Hills on the Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire border. With south facing slopes and a unique micro-climate we grow healthy vines and produce outstanding grapes. Picked by hand each grape variety is pressed and fermented separately to produce exceptional quality wines.
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Foxbury Fields Vineyard produces high quality small batch wine. We are passionate about our Bacchus and Ortega and are committed to bringing you fine wine every time.
