10th August - Coopers Croft Vineyard

Our meeting this month was a visit to Coopers Croft Vineyard, where Nick Watson, the owner, shared his knowledge, passion, and incredible journey with us; as well as a glass or two of his delicious award-winning wines. Well, it would have been rude not too have tried them!!

Having a background, and degree, in agriculture, Nick knows a thing or two about soil and crop growing, but why stop there. He decided he would like to set up a small vineyard, as a hobby.

After spending 2years searching for a suitable property with land which had to be south facing and have a slope, Nick and his young family moved to Ashfield Green in 2011.  With much blood, sweat, and a no doubt a few tears, he set about clearing and preparing the acre of land, eventually planting 1000 vines. He chose two grape varieties, Bachus as a white and Pinot Noir as a Rosé. Fast forward to 2018 and the production of 500 bottles of wine, Coopers Croft Vineyard was firmly established. With some 2000 bottles now being produced, there are plans to expand further with the planting of a new hybrid grape variety.

Winning Bronze for their Bacchus at the Wine GB East competition in 2021 they went on to win Gold in 2022 and have won Gold again this year. The Pinot Noir fizz, which has just been bottled, also won Gold, with the Pinot Noir Rosé winning silver.

If you haven’t tried British wines yet, for one reason or another, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, as verified by the WI ladies who were queuing up to buy a bottle or two at the end of a most enjoyable evening. Cheers!!