After health concerns made Will Croxford reconsider his ambitious sailing plans, Will channelled his energy into viticulture, a field he was already deeply interested in due to his agricultural background.

Will took on a 24-acre vineyard and established Croxford Wine Estates, which offers comprehensive services such as site selection, vineyard establishment, vineyard management and machine harvesting.

To ensure top-quality vineyard management, Croxford Wine Estates relies on cutting-edge equipment from Kent-based Kirkland UK. The latest addition to their arsenal is the Gregoire GT3 trailed grape harvester, a first of its kind in the UK. Will chose this harvester after extensive research, including a visit to the manufacturer in France. The Gregoire GT3 stands out for its gentle handling of grapes, which are shaken onto scales rather than pans and transported with minimal contact to preserve the integrity of the fruit.

One of the key features of the Gregoire GT3 is its user-friendly design, allowing the destemmer to be easily disengaged with the push of a button. This feature is particularly beneficial when dealing with ripe crops, as bypassing the destemmer helps produce a better sample with reduced risk of oxygenation before pressing, ultimately leading to higher quality wine.

Kirkland UK has become Croxford Wine Estates’ supplier of choice when it comes to vineyard machinery.

The respected dealership has already supplied Will with an Orizzonti Multy 2 with Ecology strimmer heads for effective and sustainable under vine weed control, an Orizzonti BioRoll crimper roller for easy management of cover crops and the market-leading Friuli Drift Recovery Sprayer.

The sprayer saves Croxford Wine Estates, on average, 60% of its spend on chemicals across a season. Kirkland UK has also supplied the business with a Sthik grape trailer which ensure efficient handling of the harvest.

Reflecting this close partnership, Will plans to pair the newly acquired Gregoire GT3 trailed harvester with a new Antonio Carraro tractor, enabling Kirkland to use the setup as a demonstration machine for other growers. Additionally, the tractor-harvester combination will be showcased at viticulture trade shows, highlighting the cutting-edge technology and versatility that Gregoire, a world leader in machine harvesters, brings to the industry. Tom Wheatley from Kirkland UK further emphasizes Gregoire’s flexibility, noting its ability to handle a wide range of harvest conditions, from heavy to light or overripe crops.

Will has high praise for the Kirkland team, noting its extensive knowledge, helpfulness and exceptional customer support. He values the strong relationship they’ve built, crediting Kirkland’s comprehensive stock of parts (“I think they pretty much have at least one of pretty much every part of each machine they stock,” he said) and highly professional workshop team for providing unmatched back-up service.

As Will expanded his viticulture management services through Croxford Wine Estates, he quickly realised that producing around 70,000 bottles of wine annually made it impractical to rely on a contract winery due to current distances of two to three hours-plus, to the established ones within the industry from our region. This insight led to the creation of the Nene Valley Winery, a facility designed to process not just his own grapes but those of other growers as well.

Nene Valley Winery is a family run enterprise that embodies the shared passion and dedication of two families who have come together to pursue their love for winemaking. Nestled in the picturesque landscape of the Nene Valley, the winery is a testament to the commitment of these two families to craft exquisite wines. Each family brings its own rich heritage, expertise and traditions to the winemaking process, resulting in a harmonious blend of skill and artistry. Together, they have cultivated a winery that celebrates the spirit of community, family values and a deep-rooted connection to the land. At Nene Valley Winery, every bottle tells a story of collaboration, passion and the shared dream of creating wines that are truly extraordinary.

Nene Valley Winery in Northamptonshire has a 5,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility, built in partnership with Dennis Hall. The winery is equipped with the latest technology, advanced winemaking equipment and laboratory facilities with a duty suspended storage and distribution facility, reflecting Will’s philosophy of investing in the best equipment to ensure top-quality production.

Will highlights the unique offerings of the Nene Valley Winery, which is designed to benefit grape growers across the UK. While the winery doesn’t handle the marketing of the final product, it provides a full suite of services – from grape growing to winemaking and even direct-to-buyer shipping for those selling online. This allows growers to focus on their vineyards while leaving the production and logistics in expert hands.

The turnkey winery is being equipped by Core Equipment, a respected supplier based in Northamptonshire, responsible for outfitting the facility with top-tier machinery, including a Zambelli grape elevator and destemmer/crusher, a Bucher wine press, and 36 Letina tanks. Will’s choice of equipment and supplier aligns with his guiding principle of “buy right, buy once,” ensuring that he invests in the best tools to guarantee quality and efficiency—much like his long-standing partnership with Kirkland UK.

Will is particularly focused on working closely with customers, allowing them as much involvement in the winemaking process as they desire. The winery uses specialised software that gives growers access to detailed information about their grapes and the entire winemaking process. This transparency reflects Will’s belief that winemaking is a deeply personal journey for many, and he strives to make the process as collaborative as possible for those who wish to be involved.

His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his approach to both business and winemaking, as he seeks to involve clients in the winemaking process, providing them with access to detailed information and encouraging a collaborative approach. With a strong foundation in agriculture and soil science, coupled with a commitment to excellence and expert collaboration, Will’s ventures are well-positioned for success in the competitive world of wine production.

By integrating these resources with the vineyard management services offered by Croxford Wine Estates, Will’s company is able to manage the entire production process, from vineyard setup and vine planting to winemaking, storage and final distribution. This comprehensive approach allows growers across England to benefit from a full-service operation that ensures quality and efficiency at every stage of wine production.

Will emphasized that using the winery for his own grapes allows him to spread operating costs, enabling the facility to offer competitive rates to other vineyard owners. The winery has a significant capacity of 250,000 bottles, ensuring it can handle a wide range of production needs.

Another key principle that drives Will Croxford’s approach to winemaking is his commitment to seeking expert advice when it can enhance the final product. To ensure the highest standards in vineyard management and wine production, Will has enlisted the expertise of agronomist Penny Meadmore for crop husbandry, ensuring that the vines are nurtured with the best possible care.

Nene Valley Winery has recently announced an exciting addition to its winemaking team with the appointment of Salvatore Leone, a renowned consultant winemaker with 20 years and 34 vintages of experience in seven countries across both hemispheres and working in the UK for the past eight years.

Salvatore Leone brings his extensive experience and expertise to guide the winery’s winemaking process, aiming to elevate the quality and distinctiveness of its wines. Salvatore has also enlisted the help of a harvest winemaker from Argentina whose identity remains undisclosed for now. This new collaboration reflects Nene Valley Winery’s commitment to blending local tradition with global expertise to create exceptional wines.

This combination of expert guidance, alongside Will’s solid background in farming and soil science, his entrepreneurial spirit and his relentless drive, positions both Croxford Wine Estates and Nene Valley Winery for success. With such a strong foundation and a focus on quality at every stage, Will’s ventures are well-equipped to thrive in the competitive world of wine production.

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