Variety is the spice of life, so the saying goes, and the Thames Valley Morganeers try and get as much variety in their life as possible. On this occasion it was the Ortega, Bacchas, Findings, Perle of Alzey, along with 6 other varieties of red and white grapes that 19 members of the ThamesMog tasted during their tour of the Bothy Vineyard in Oxfordshire.
Our tour started with a gentle walk around the vineyard, during which we were told about the history of the vineyard, the economics of the wine making business, viticulture, and the environmental factors which affect the harvest and wine. Having viewed the various grape varieties and growing methods employed there, we visited the winery where the Bothy winemaking operations were explained. Finally there was a tasting of their award-winning wines accompanied by canapés from a local delicatessen.
Vineyards (or wineries for our American cousins) were first introduced into Great Britain by the Romans two thousand years ago, but had all but died out until the 1970s when gentlemen-farmers started producing wine almost as a hobby. English wine was never considered as a serious contender for awards until about a decade ago when English wines started winning international awards.
The Bothy Vineyard, established thirty-seven years ago, continues an ancient tradition of wine making in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, dating back to medieval times. The excellent micro-climate, warm sandy soils, long ripening season and mature vines help produce wines of consistent depth and high quality, which have won the award for the best white wine in the Thames region over several years.
After visiting the vineyard shop, Morgans were seen leaving the vineyard loaded down with bottles of wine, merry passengers, and drivers regretting having to drive, but looking forward to sampling their purchases later on.
