One of England’s most respected winemakers, with a string of awards and trophies under her belt, Emma Rice is now working as an independent winemaking consultant to both new and established wine businesses in the UK. An early graduate of the BSc at Plumpton College, she has been at the forefront of our industry since 2008, heavily involved with WineGB, currently as a Director on the Board. She just completed the first harvest in the brand new winery at Carvers Hill Estate in Wiltshire, where vinegrowing and winemaking are only a part of a bigger enterprise.
The seemingly unending growth of the industry continues with more planting planned for 2025 and beyond. Those who have recently planted, or who are already committed to planting next year, may be reading on the WineGB Forum and in the wider press about the fairly depressing nature of the 2024 harvest. Perhaps wondering about their life choices and what they have got themselves into!
The stark difference between last year with bumper yields (although let’s all admit 2023 wasn’t quite the ‘perfect’ vintage touted in the media), and the meagre crop most vineyards extracted this year, was brought into clear focus. Growers without contracts were left with grapes for which they had no buyer, wineries turned away fruit that didn’t make the grade and vineyard teams had to make hard decisions as to what to pick and what to discard. Dreams of making Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were replaced by the necessity to make sparkling base wine (which will no doubt be great given a few years on lees).
Never has it been clearer that a healthy wine production business in the UK needs more than just wine to thrive. Working with both established and newly founded wineries, the most successful operations have more than one string to their bows. Jack Bartholomew, MD of Carvers Hill Estate and team have more than the grape harvest on their plate in fact they are spinning more plates than a circus performer! Carvers Hill, planted in 2021 with the first perfectly formed crop in 2023 and now, has a fully operational winery providing a great example of a diverse operation. Just under six hectares of predominantly Pinot Noir clones have been planted next to what is now the winery and event venue. A total refurbishment of the old farm buildings and a desire to utilise the entire footprint of the original structure led to a building with considerably more capacity than the vineyard would ever require. The winery inhabits just one corner of the building with floor to ceiling glass windows looking through to a spectacular event space capable of seating 150 guests. A commercial kitchen, a chef’s table, as well as the vast hall provides a blank canvas for any event. The immaculate grounds give way to more space in the summer months with the possibility of celebrations and events within the vineyard. Over the harvest period the whole team have been immersed in picking grapes, setting up 50th birthday parties and dispatching stock for clients.
No expense was spared with the mezzanine level operating as a private members’ space for more intimate events, corporate hire for away day training and Board meetings. Tim Griffiths, the owner, already had a thriving private members’ wine club, Le Grand Société, based on his winery Domaine de Bellevue in Bordeaux. Carvers Hill and the first wines made from the vines in Wiltshire are now an integral part of the membership offering. The first small-scale Rosé made in 2023 is already sold out and the 2024 is eagerly awaited. Members can hire the private mezzanine suite and store their own wine collections on site (under bond). The storage facilities are fully bonded – with both a Producer Licence and a full Excise Licence for third party storage. Both members and local wine merchants take advantage of the facility and have wines delivered in and out of the bonded warehouses at their convenience. Ideal for long-term storage of wine on lees, the warehouses are temperature-controlled, with no natural light.
Whilst Tim is still operating the wider arable farm (the grain store is next to the winery) there are several other diversification projects on-site. There is a parcel of land set-aside for the village to grow vegetables in a community scheme both outside and in polytunnels. The same group of locals also readily volunteered to come and pick the grapes on several days. A section of woodland, otherwise under-utilised, is about to become home to several Luxury Cabins that will be available to book for retreats and weekends away. Tucked away in the woods each hut will have its own private area with log burners, fire pits and facilities – views through the trees give a glimpse of the vineyard across the valley.
Providing valuable local employment in a rural area and with a focus on multiple income streams, Carvers Hill Estate is well positioned to cope with the vagaries of the English climate.
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