Retired Salesman's Allotment Vineyard Produces Award-Winning Wine He Shares for Free
By Jill Dando News
Andy Waring, a 66-year-old retired salesman, has transformed a corner of his allotment in Buckland Newton, Dorset, into a thriving vineyard.
What began as an impulsive decision to fill empty space has blossomed into a passion project producing award-winning wines.
Waring's journey into winemaking started 15 years ago when he and his French wife Viviane acquired an allotment. Realizing they couldn't manage a plot full of vegetables, Waring decided to plant some vines. "I needed some permanent planting so on a whim I just decided to have a go," he explains. "I've always been interested in wine, my wife is French and I've always liked the look of vineyards."
Despite initial skepticism from others, Waring persevered. "Everybody thought I was mad and everyone I spoke to about it thought it wouldn't work and that just spurred me on," he recalls.
Self-taught through books and YouTube videos, Waring's winemaking skills have improved significantly over the years.
Today, Waring's vineyard boasts 60 vines of Regent, Solaris, and Orion grapes, producing about 100 litres (equivalent to 133 bottles) of wine annually.
His red, white, and rosé wines have gained recognition, even impressing a French wine expert who claimed Waring's free wine surpassed a £34 bottle.
Waring's success is evident in his recent accolades at the Dorset County Show, where he secured first and second place for best wine produced by an amateur grower.
However, he chooses not to sell his wine to avoid bureaucratic complexities. Instead, he shares his production with friends and family, eliminating the need to purchase wine from stores.
The vineyard occupies half of Waring's 26ft by 49ft allotment. He uses hybrid grape varieties that are mildew-resistant and better suited to Britain's climate, allowing for chemical-free cultivation. "Everything is done by hand and I do it all myself.
I harvest the grapes by hand, crush them, press them and bottle them," Waring explains.
His winemaking process has evolved over time. "I bought a wine crusher from Italy. Over there a lot of people produce wine on a small domestic scale so it wasn't too expensive.
That revolutionised it," he says. The entire operation, from harvesting to fermentation, takes place between his allotment and his home's utility room.
Waring estimates his total investment over the past decade at around £700, with half spent on the secondhand crusher. Despite the modest scale, he takes pride in his accomplishment: "It's very small scale for a vineyard but quite large for an individual operation."
While Waring enjoys his hobby immensely, he acknowledges the challenges posed by unpredictable weather. "The last two years I've made 100 litres each year, but this year is not looking very good because of the weather. I don't know if I will get a usable crop," he admits.
Ultimately, for Waring, winemaking remains a labor of love. "I just do it for fun, I don't want the paperwork involved in selling it," he concludes.
His story stands as a testament to the rewards of pursuing one's passions, regardless of initial doubts or obstacles.
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