On a brilliantly sunny 29 June 2024, Deer Park Wines played host to the very first Bredon Wine Fayre, on Bredon Hill in Worcestershire, writes Sam Sandbach of Ledbury Wine Cellar. As well as Deer Park Vineyard, exhibitors included Woodchester Valley near Stroud, Welcombe Hills near Stratford-upon-Avon, Three Choirs near Newent, and The Dell Vineyard near Raglan.
Organisers Mark Steele and his wife Caron were our hosts; their award-winning vineyard also features a splendid wedding venue and business centre, offering stunning views to the north and westward to the Malvern Hills. Third generation owners, the Steele’s 1,400 acre farm is mostly organic, and now has four well established vineyards. From 4,000 vines planted in 2016, plantings have grown to 7,500 vines yielding about 20,000 bottles p.a., including Pinot Noir on an ideal south-facing site. Although not currently organic, insecticides are totally avoided to safeguard the local insect biome.
The topsoil is typical Cotswold limestone, providing freshness for white wines, with a subsoil of clay allowing for healthy drought-resistant root structures for both red and white varietals. The vines, in beautifully tended rows 2.3m apart, have a thick weed-suppressing woodchip mulch with inter-row cover of a grasses and clover. Roses add colour at the end of occasional rows and provide early warning of any mildew attack. Plant health is closely monitored, trace elements and balancing fertiliser treatments applied as necessary in a long-term sustainable programme. Ongoing canopy management with rigorous leaf stripping and green harvesting limits yields to maybe six healthy bunches per vine, maximising potential quality.
Recent Decanter awards include a Silver Medal for 2022 Pinot Noir, Bronze for 2022 Bacchus, and a Silver Medal for Stag Oak Reserve – a delightful blend of Chardonnay with lightly oaked Solaris. The Classic Cuvée sparkler is a traditional assemblage of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner and Cabernet Cortis are also grown.
Bredon Wine Fayre received an endless flow of five hundred English wine enthusiasts; the educational options on offer included a guided tour of the vineyard, separate masterclasses on viticulture and on vinification, and a professionally tutored wine-tasting of Bacchus wines from exhibiting vineyards. A craft village, with delicious local food and live music, added to the atmosphere of a great summer garden party.
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