Local News and Events
Award Winning Wines Grown On Our Doorstep Forty Hall Vineyard is a local award winning, not-for-profit social enterprise and London’s only commercial-scale vineyard. Situated on 10 acres of beautiful organic green space at Forty Hall Farm. The vines are planted over two south facing fields buzzing with wildlife and with beautiful views that look to the City of London. It all began in 2009 with the first acre planted by over 100 volunteers. The vineyard was founded by Sarah Vaughan-Roberts in partnership with Capel Manor College. The idea combined Sarah’s interest in horticulture and wine with her passionate desire to enable others to experience the social and therapeutic benefits of outdoor activity. The project is led and managed by a close-knit group of passionate and dedicated local volunteers
8
who work tirelessly and enthusiastically yearround, come rain or shine, to maintain and nurture over 14,500 vines. Working alongside the volunteers, our trained eco-therapists, provide a listening ear if needed. The services are enjoyed by a wide range of people including retired professionals, young people, adults with learning difficulty and others living in the local community, all working side-by-side. We believe that everyone can benefit from a bit of ‘ecotherapy’. All of the vines and wines are certified as organic by the Soil Association and they are gradually introducing biodynamic vineyard management. The wines are vegan to boot! The grapes are grown naturally, with as little intervention as possible, so that the wine produced from these grapes best
EN MAGAZINE - issue 95 February 2018
reflects the terroir, the unique characteristics of the place, the soil and its microclimate. Currenlty the vineyard growes five varieties of grapes: Ortega and Bacchus for still white wines, and the three Champagne varieties Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay for our traditional-method sparkling wines. Forty Hall Vineyard work with the extremely talented (multiple award winning) winemaker, Will Davenport, who runs Davenport Vineyards in
Kent, is passionate about making organic wine. In 2014 he was awarded a gold medal for “Most Outstanding Sparkling Wine” in the English Wine Awards. Using modern equipment, but traditional methods, following strict organic principles, he leaves the grapes to speak for themselves. Last year saw the release of the 2015 London Sparkling Brut, a perfect fizz to share with your loved one on Valentines day or for any celebration Forty Hall Vineyard’s Sparkling Brut is made in