On February 14th 2003, we (Richard and Rita Tomkinson) became the owners of 2.25 acres of recently ploughed agricultural land at the bottom of our garden. We had been negotiating with the farmer for the purchase of this land for some time believing that it was unlikely we would be successful.
This was the end of a very large field, whose purchase allowed us to extend our boundary fence straight across the field end. We now had a south facing slope looking towards the Malvern Hills with views over Worcester and the Cathedral. The big question was what to do with it?
Having considered many options and after a visit to Astley Vineyard, I invited the vineyard consultant, Simon Day to view the site for a potential new vineyard. The aspect ticked all the right boxes and the soil sample showed a sandy clay top soil with a sandy loam beneath, which was also acceptable. The site is about 40 to 50 metres above sea level and so Simon supported the idea of creating a vineyard.
During April 2003, 50 Phoenix vines were planted and Rose Bank Vineyard was started.

Training

Having very quickly created a fledgling vineyard with the belief that if the few vines planted were successful, further planting would follow, it was now necessary to gain some knowledge on vineyard management.
Plumpton College had been mentioned as being “the place” to go to be trained. However, the location of Plumpton College in East Sussex was a daunting prospect especially if courses spanned a number of weeks. Having reviewed the various courses on offer, I attended the Principles of Vinegrowing course. This was one day a month spread over 8 months, with the theory in the classroom on the morning and the practical in the vineyard in the afternoon, whatever the weather.
Simon mentioned a trellis system called Scott Henry. The Plumpton course verified that their assessment of the system made it highly recommended. I therefore decided that Scott Henry was coming to Worcestershire.

Planting

Equipment

Our first piece of vineyard equipment purchased was a compact tractor and a topper. The topper has proved very useful, as the original ploughed field was sown with grass (and a lot of weeds) when we took ownership. As the tractor has no hydraulics, I needed to obtain a fan assisted sprayer that I could either tow behind the tractor or carry on the three point coupling. I also wanted a sprayer that delivered the majority of spray onto the vines rather than into the atmosphere.

I approached Micron Sprayers of Bromyard to see if, between us, we could develop a sprayer that would meet my requirements. Over a period of 6 months, a prototype was created and delivered. I used it successfully and, with very few modifications, I continue to do so. It has three individual fan assisted spray nozzles. These can work independently and can be directed specifically at a spray area. As the canopy on Scott Henry is not too dense, the fairly light weight fans are able to provide sufficient movement to enable the spray to penetrate the canopy.

Production

We take our grapes to Three Choirs Vineyards Ltd in Newent, Glos, who make the wine for us. Harvest time is one of the most nail biting and rewarding of times. We are extremely lucky to have a group of friends who come and help pick. This year for the first time we held a “pickers” supper in January and we managed to sit 26 people in our house as a celebration of the harvest and a big thank you.

Sales

This year is our first year of selling our wine. This is a new concept for us and we have found it both very challenging and a little frustrating. We have undertaken wine tasting, attended business evenings and given talks to local organisations. The local press ran a “Life Style” article on us and we are about to be mentioned in our local Parish magazine. We opened the vineyard for the first time to visitors during English Wine Week at the end of May. In addition to now opening on a Saturday for vineyard visitors, we also welcome wine buyers between 10.00am and 5.30pm other days except Sundays when we are open between 11.00am and 4.00pm.

One of the most rewarding aspects of having a vineyard is when we get visits from people considering planting a vineyard. It is interesting to hear how they get on and whether their aspirations change after a visit to us.

Red Tape

It is a good thing that vineyard creation takes a number of years. Each year has produced its own challenges with regards to meeting the specific requirements of the industry. The plus side is the relief/satisfaction obtained when another hurdle has been cleared successfully. I have found the changes in legislation concerning guarantee requirements for payment of duty and the discrepancy in the ability to claim a personal allowance in the first year, not allowed for wine producers but allowed for cider makers, particularly challenging.

Conclusion

Rose Bank Vineyard is up and running. The hard work is balanced by the sceptical wine taster firstly being surprised by the existence of a vineyard in Fernhill Heath and then, on tasting the wine, stating “this is rather nice” in a surprised voice before buying a bottle.
Having worked in an office all my working life, I enjoy being outside tackling the challenges the year brings to the vineyard. What is retirement?

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In the 2008 UKVA competition, Rose Bank Phoenix 2007 was awarded a Bronze medal, while the Madeleine Angevine 2007 and Fern Hill 2007 were both Highly Commended

In the 2009 UKVA competition, both the Fern Hill 2008 and the Phonenix 2008 were awarded Bronze medals. The Fernhill 2007 was Highly Commended again.

Bronze Medal UKVA 2009

We hope to be regular stall holders at the following Farmer's Markets where you will have the opportunity to sample our wines:-

• 1st Saturday in the month – Droitwich, Victoria Square
• 2nd Saturday in the month – Bromsgrove, High Street
  

• Leave M5 at junction 6 (Worcester North)
• Take A449 towards Kidderminster (dual carriageway)
• Take first junction signposted to Blackpole (don’t go into the lay-by prior to this junction)
• At “T” junction turn right.
• Stay on this road until next “T” junction, you are now in Fernhill Heath.
• You should have the White Hart pub on your left at this junction.
• Turn left (A38) towards Worcester.
• After about 300 yards the houses on your left give way to 2 fields with a brick bus stop in a lay-by in front of them.
• 247 is the first house on the left, behind a leylandi hedge, after the fields.