St. Martin's, Isles of Scilly, TR25 0QL
Tel: (01720) 423418
Email: graham@stmartinsvineyard.co.uk
Web: www.stmartinsvineyard.co.uk
The most south-westerly vineyard in England.
Established in 1996 by Val and Graham Thomas. The St. Martin's Vineyard and Winery is on the south facing slopes of a tenancy farm originally used to produce bulbs and cut flower by Mr. Dereck Perkins, Val's Father. It is the most south-westerly vineyard in England.
The first of the vines trialled were white varieties - Reichensteiner and Madeleine Angevine. Plantings have taken place annually in the spring; to date there are eighteen field's approximately three acres are under vines.
The varieties that were chosen were to suit the soil types and the climate of the Isles of Scilly. These included: Orion, Findling, and Siegerrebe. A red grape Rondo is also doing well. The double guyot system of training is being used and extra windbreak's have been erected to supplement existing fences of Pittisporum and Euonymous.
In 1996 we had a well drilled on the farm to supply us with the required water for the winery.
In 1999 the birds enjoyed the very first crop of grapes which demonstrated the need for all the vines to be netted in order to protect all future harvests.
The first vintage in 2000 yielded just 120 bottles! For the first three years the grapes were picked, packed and loaded onto the Scillonian III and transported to Pemboa Vineyard, where the wine was made and bottled by Lyodd and Janet Jones.
In 2003 the Thomas's converted a stone barn into a winery so that now the wine is made and bottled by then St. Martin's Vineyard in the Isles of Scilly.
In the same year they opened a small farm shop from where people may take part in conducted tours and sample the wine - "take the tour and taste the wine"
Close to Higher Town on this wonderful island.
Opening TimesOpen weekdays throughout the summer11.00am to 4.00pm Admission Free |
The Isles of Scilly St. Martin's Farming in Cornwall Vineyards in Cornwall