Several members of Howey WI were surprised to learn about a growing vineyard in Cross Gates, writes Karen Latham.

At the Howey WI monthly meeting, Mike Phillips of Blue Moon Vineyards shared the story behind the development of his vineyard. In 1992, Mike purchased a derelict farmhouse and 63 acres of land that had been tenanted in the 1890s by his great-grandfather and later worked by his great-uncle and grandfather. After four planning applications and several years of work, Mike finally received permission to restore the farmhouse, parts of which are believed to date back to 1690.

Following a 2012 holiday in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where the climate reminded him of Mid Wales, Mike and his wife decided to try their hand at growing vines. After consulting UK vineyards and seeking professional advice, they chose to plant hardy grape varieties on the land, which they described as "marginal." In 2014, they planted 1,200 vines, though 200 were lost to slugs. Vineyards require specific conditions—no late frosts in May and plenty of sunshine in September to ripen the fruit—and not every year yields a successful crop. In fact, even in sunnier regions, growers expect to lose a crop about once every four years. The members of Howey WI could certainly sympathise, especially with Mike’s initial struggle to grow vines on the lower, wetter clay ground.

Today, Blue Moon Vineyards is thriving with around 3,000 vines across 3.5 acres. The grapes are picked and pressed in Ledbury within 12 hours, then left to mature in vats. Mike is committed to keeping the business as local as possible, including the striking silver labels for Blue Moon wines, which were designed and produced locally. Additionally, local sheep wool is used as a weed suppressant in the vineyard.

After tasting all three wines, the white wine was the clear favorite among Howey WI members. Mike plans to begin vineyard tours later this year, and Howey WI has already booked a visit.