Our Story
From Our Vines to Your Glass
Let me introduce myself. My name is Rob, and after having spent my career growing our family’s automotive business, and transitioning its leadership to my son, I anticipated a well-deserved retirement. While the initial weeks were indeed a time of well-earned rest, a quiet yearning for a new challenge began to surface. This led me to revisit a long-held dream… establishing a vineyard.
A thorough exploration of our existing landholdings revealed a hidden gem – a field perfectly suited for viticulture. This discovery ignited the project, and soon, the dream began to take tangible shape. Before long, in 2022 we were embarking on the exciting endeavor of planting 10,600 vines, marking the official commencement of Marlow Valley Vineyard.
What I hadn’t fully anticipated was the sheer determination and hours of hard graft it takes to bring a vineyard to life…
As I soon discovered, vineyard life requires constant and diligent care all year round and from pruning and trimming, to mowing, fertilising and harvesting; the list seemed endless. Fortunately for myself, energy was in abundant supply, with the support of two trusted friends, and thus the trio of Risky Rob, Reckless Ralf and Careful Ken was born.
Together, we have navigated the triumphs and tribulations, continuously adapting and overcoming challenges with resilience and of course, some good humour. Whilst we will admit moments of chaos were unavoidable at times, they have only added to our adventure.
Meet the Team
Billy Boy
The Boss
The Cocker Spaniel whose HR skills keep the boys in check. Oh and… pheasant control!
Risky Rob
That’s me. The resident risk-taker. My philosophy? Dive headfirst into challenges with optimism and see where it takes you. The results are always… memorable!
Reckless Ralf
His legendary moment? A mix-up during vine planting that gave rise to the infamous ‘Row 21.’ Let’s just say this row has redefined the art of blending…
Careful Ken
Our voice of reason. Ken’s steady hand and cautious nature keep the rest of us in check (most of the time).
Backup Ben
When the going gets tough, we know we can always count on Ben to lend a hand and lighten the load. And obviously … rock his trusty tweed cap.
After three years of perseverance, grit and laughter the vineyard is flourishing.
The year 2024 marked a momentous milestone for our vineyard: our first harvest. Despite the challenges posed by an unusually wet summer, we were delighted to achieve a plentiful harvest thanks to the resilience of our dry, chalky soil.
What began as a shared dream has blossomed into a vibrant reality. Everyone behind Marlow Valley Vineyard is immensely proud to embark on this exciting journey and finally share the fruits of our labor with you.