Take a good look at the photo to the right. Where was it taken, d’you think? France? Spain? California’s Napa Valley? Nope. Not even close. How about Molesey, Surrey, UK?
One (!) of my long held fantasies is to sit in the sunshine, on a cushioned seat with a long cold drink (possibly a gin and tonic) under my very own grapevine. I never imagined that it would be in my own back garden in dear old Blighty.
About 5 years ago we planted two very small vines. A black desert grape, Regent, and a white grape, Chardonnay. Not because we were delusional about wine making, but because the garden centre only had these two pots left! We planted them against the fence in our south facing pocket handkerchief sized garden, where they catch the afternoon sun – providing there is any sun. Each year we’ve had grapes – although last year’s were terrible – and each year we have made wine. The first tasted a bit like nail varnish remover, admittedly. But the next year’s batch was a lot better. In fact, I have actually paid for wine that tasted worse than our home made version.
This years crop is abundant, to say the least. We now have a bit of a dilemma: to make wine, or not to make wine? We can’t possible eat all the black grapes (the white ones are deffo not for eating). It’s quite a lot of work and we are both quite busy at the end of this month. What would you do?
