Warden Abbey Vineyard star in Vineyard Magazine Article

On 9th January 2023 our community vineyard Warden Abbey Vineyard was featured in an article by the Vineyard Magazine which shares about the past, present, and future of the vineyard and how it impacts local community.

During the cold January weeks where work at the vineyard is limited as the vines lay dormant, new bursts of life entered the vineyard as Bex and Martin from the Vineyard Magazine joined Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity staff and Friends of Warden Award Vineyard volunteers to learn more about the work we do.

The day saw volunteers and staff sharing with the reporters about the history of the vineyard site, how the vineyard is maintained through the network of volunteers, and plans for the future.

The Vineyard Magazine has been running since 2018 and is the UK’s first monthly magazine dedicated to commercial grape growing and wine making. Each edition shares about a visit to a UK vineyard and/or winery, which enables readers to find out about the ‘behind the scenes’ of the vineyards/winerys responsible for putting Great Britain on the map for wine. Warden Abbey Vineyard were honoured to be featured in the latest edition, and to have the opportunity to share about the work they do.

Read some experts from the article below. To read the full article, please visit the Vineyard Magazine website.

A real sense of unity and working together is evident and it becomes clear throughout the visit that excellent award winning wine is not the only product of the vineyard. “I have made so many friends,” said Amanda and indeed our conversation is joined by more and more people. Apart from the social aspect of the vineyard Gerry points to the peace and tranquillity that can be found here – wellbeing walks regularly take place in the vineyard. Our visit took place on a cold but beautiful winter day and it is easy to see why the group have had new volunteers since the challenges of Covid-19 and its associated difficulties. Volunteering here would be such a rewarding experience. 

Following along with the local community theme at Warden Abbey, the vineyard already hosts groups of young people. Rafe Radford, one of the volunteers and a retired GP explained that under 18s who have learning difficulties come to the vineyard and get involved in activities such as creating bug hotels “they have mixed abilities but they all enjoy returning to the vineyard” he said. The vineyard also works with semi independent adults that have learning difficulties and these groups take part in tasks such as planting new vines. 

Warden Abbey Vineyard has achieved so much and the wines that are at its heart have also won awards. Gerry explained part of the reason for this: “Each bunch of grapes is picked by hand and carefully looked at before it goes into the crate.” The attachment to the vineyard of all those who volunteer is evident and brings to mind the “handmade with love” ethos. “Everybody that comes here is invested in the vineyard because they get so much more out of it than a glass of wine,” said Amanda. “The wine is almost a by product of all the other benefits of the vineyard,” said Gerry smiling. 

Read the full article by visiting the Vineyard Magazine website.

Feature photograph by Vineyard Magazine.