The Vineyard
It was a way to take a beautiful piece of land and turn it into something even more special
Situated a mere mile from the charming riverside town of Marlow, the vineyard enjoys a privileged position within the Chiltern Hills, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The south-facing slopes of the picturesque valley, characterised by rolling chalk hills and surrounded by ancient woodland, offer a prime vineyard location.
The presence of a tranquil pond also acts as a haven for wildlife, and adds a touch of serenity. Each summer, we are privileged to witness the wonderful spectacle of ducklings hatching and exploring their surroundings, making a delightful backdrop to our winemaking endeavors. In addition to its beauty, the pond serves a vital function within our sustainable operations.
It forms part of a rainwater harvesting system that collects up to 10,000 litres of rainwater from the wine storage. This valuable resource is then utilised for irrigation and spraying purposes, significantly reducing our reliance on mains water supply. Any excess rainwater is carefully directed to the pond, enriching the local ecosystem.
In 2022, 10,600 vines were planted across 5 acres of our land
Our selection of grape varieties- Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Bacchus are renowned for their exceptional performance in English wine regions and will serve as the foundation for our future vintages, yielding both exquisite sparkling wines and elegant still wines.
Prior to establishing the vineyard, the land served as pasture for sheep, their presence enriching the soil with valuable nutrients. As touched on, we prioritise sustainable practices, employing natural methods wherever possible. For instance, we have implemented cover cropping, such as planting broad beans since our first harvest, to naturally enhance soil nitrogen levels.
To minimise the need for chemical interventions, we use a multifaceted approach. A weather station and software are employed to forecast disease risks and optimise spray applications. Throughout all of this, we are fortunate to have the guidance and expertise of Matt, our esteemed vineyard consultant, who further provides invaluable insights and assists in much of the decision making.
Timeline
2021: A Year of Foundation
July
Our journey commenced with careful and thorough land preparation. A controlled burn off was followed by power harrowing, and the soil was enriched with a diverse cover crop of radishes, vetch, buckwheat and phacelia, nurturing the terroir of our vineyard.
November
The thriving cover crop was mowed down, a crucial step in its lifecycle. However, after this stage we recognised the need for more rigorous soil incorporation, therefore, a flail mower was used to further finely chop up the cover crop. This refinement proved crucial in optimising soil preparation for the future vines.
December
The land was then deeply ploughed, turning the soil and enhancing it with the nutrients from the decomposing cover crop. Soil samples were collected for analysis, guiding future cultivation decisions and ensuring the vineyard received the best possible start.
2022: A Year of Growth
March
A significant milestone was reached with the deep subsoiling of the land, ploughing soil over 2 feet into the ground, allowing for optimal, easy root development and ensuring a strong foundation for the vines. The land was then graded to create a level canvas for the upcoming planting.
May
The months of demanding preparation were finally met with the planting of the vines, marking a significant milestone in the vineyard’s development. This also marked the birth of ‘Row 21’ – the iconic row where mystery remains on its grape variety, thanks to Reckless Ralf!
June
The young vineyard began to take shape with the installation of a robust trellis system, providing essential support for the vines to grow and mature. To protect them in their early stages, rabbit guards and deer fencing were installed, to give the vines their best start possible.
2023: A Year of Observation & Learning
Throughout the Year
The vines experienced their first growing season, a period of careful management and learning. Another cover crop was strategically planted between the rows to further enrich the soil.
End of Season
At the season’s end, a strategic approach to cover crop management was implemented. Every other row was mowed, ensuring soil enrichment but also vitally minimising soil compaction caused by heavy machinery, reducing stress on the young vines.
2024: A Year of Triumph & Challenges
January
The New Year ushered in the crucial task of winter pruning. This period saw cutting back dead stems and shoots, and preparing them for the upcoming growing season.
May
The arrival of spring brought the critical challenge of frost protection. Vigilant monitoring necessitated frequent night-time and 3am visits to the vineyard, ensuring the vines were protected from the damaging effects of freezing temperatures throughout bud burst and flowering. When temperatures dipped below freezing, we implemented Bougie Spring frost protection, lighting candles to protect the vines. To be honest, this proved to be an incredibly demanding task, but also instilling within us a profound appreciation for the resilience required in vineyard management.
June
As the vines matured leaf trimming and careful canopy management took place in order to optimise sunlight exposure and fruit development.
October
D-day! In the weeks leading up to the big day, rigorous grape sampling was conducted. Randomly selecting approximately 10 bunches from various locations throughout the vineyard allowed us to obtain a representative average of sugar levels and acidity. This dedicated process was repeated approximately six times, providing crucial data to guide our harvest decisions and ensure optimal ripeness and flavor development.
To further explore the potential of our vineyard, four rows of Bacchus were left on the vine for an extended period. This experiment, designed to gauge the limits of ripeness, especially during a wet summer, provided valuable insights into the vineyard’s unique characteristics and informed future harvest strategies. To experience every moment of this exciting day in detail – read the full story in our blog.
2025: A Year of Firsts and Awards
February
What an unforgettable way to celebrate a milestone birthday for a key family member: our very first wine tasting and blending session. There was plenty of trial and error along the way, but eventually we all agreed on the final blend—and the result was something truly special.
May
Our very first vintage of Bacchus was ready for release. We chose to create two distinct cuvées: one fermented predominantly in stainless steel, and a limited-edition version fermented in oak. The result was two beautifully contrasting expressions of Bacchus. With this also being our first time selling wine, a steep learning curve lay ahead…
June
Our winemaker, Itasca Wines, believed so strongly in the quality of our wine that they entered it into the WineGB Awards. This prestigious blind-tasting competition is judged by a diverse panel of wine experts and leading buyers. We were astonished, honoured, and immensely proud when WineGB announced that our very first vintage had scored an outstanding 95% and been awarded a Gold Medal.
September
Following a long, hot summer with very little rainfall, our young vines needed extra care and watering—all 10,600 of them. Despite the challenges, we were ready for an early harvest. It was very much an “all hands on deck” moment.
October
The accolades continued when our Gold Medal–winning wine passed another rigorous selection and was chosen for WineGB’s Golden 50 list—celebrating the top 50 Gold Award–winning wines across all varieties and vintages. A truly humbling achievement.
2026: More Growth and Recognition
February – Rabbit Guard Removal
As the vines become more established, the protective rabbit guards that have shielded them through their early years are removed. It’s a satisfying milestone that allows the vines to continue maturing naturally. It also means that we don’t have to keep removing and then replacing 10,600 rabbit guards every time we do bud-rubbing!
April & May – Spring Frosts
Spring is one of the most anxious times in the vineyard. As new berries emerge, they become vulnerable to late frosts. 2026 was a particularly bad year for frost with temperatures often plummeting during the night for several hours. Luckily we were able to deploy Felix the Frost Fan which kept most of the vineyard frost free – but were still up all night for several nights making sure the candles stayed alight for the rest of the vineyard.
May & June – A Silver Award-Winning Rosé
2026 marked an exciting milestone with the release of our very first Rosé. Even more excitingly, it was immediately recognised with a Silver Award by WineGB, joining our Gold Award-winning Bacchus and showcasing the quality of wines now being produced at Marlow Valley Vineyard.
July & August – Summer Afternoon Pop-Ups
Summer brings the vineyard to life as we welcome guests for our Summer Afternoon Pop-Ups. Set amongst the vines just half a mile outside Marlow, visitors can enjoy award-winning wines, artisan food, beautiful sculptures by Marlow sculptor Fi Hunter, and spectacular countryside views. In July we also hosted our first Corporate team building day which included a Big Green Egg cook off, various games including rounders and tug of war as well as an informative wine tasting and vineyard tour.
Marlow, renowned for its culinary excellence, boasts a vibrant food and drink scene that rivals many larger towns
Home to the celebrated establishments of chef Tom Kerridge, including the renowned Michelin ** ‘The Hand and Flowers’, the town offers a diverse culinary landscape, from Michelin-starred gastro pubs to intimate bistros and charming cafes.
We are proud to be a part of this thriving community, striving to produce wines that not only reflect the character of our beautiful land but also to compliment the exceptional cuisine for which Marlow is so highly praised for.