Albury

Albury Vineyard is the result of Nick Wenman's passion for quality wine. He planted the vines in 2009 having retired from the IT industry to fulfil his dream of owning a vineyard. Nick believes that the key to the success of the wines is the vineyard's commitment to organic and biodynamic principles. Albury Vineyard is committed to producing organic fruit, without the use of chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides.

“Growing wine grapes in England is a knife-edge mission. And doing it organically is heroic. Albury has shown it can be done, with a serious commitment to sustainable viticulture and top-quality wines. Director and founder, Nick Wenman is a great supporter and encourager of others and works to promote the entire category of wines in Great Britain.” – Sarah Abbott MW

How did you decide to start your wine journey and where has the experience come from?

I had dreamt of owning my own vineyard since I was 18, but didn't get the opportunity to fulfil my dream until I retired from the IT industry in 2006. At that time some great English sparkling wines were coming onto the market, so I decided to plant a vineyard near my home in Albury in the Surrey Hills. We planted some 20,000 vines producing fruit that gets made into our award-winning still rosé and sparkling wines. I attended some courses at Plumpton College but I have learnt a huge amount about viticulture from our very talented vineyard manager, Alex Valsecchi.

You grow wines organically, can you share with us how do you do it?

Of the 700 vineyards in the UK, only about 20 are certified organic. Our damp wet climate encourages some of the diseases that vines suffer from, like downy mildew and botrytis. As we don't spray any systemic chemicals on the vines we have to give them special care and attention to ensure that they remain healthy. We spray lots of natural biodynamic preparations which strengthen the plants and helps prevent disease. As well as being good for the environment we believe that this approach produces better quality fruit and therefore great wine.

What challenges did you face when you got into wine producing?

The vagaries of the English weather is the biggest challenge! Spring frosts can kill early bud growth and unsettled weather in the early summer can hamper flowering and fruit set. In August and September, you need a decent amount of sun to ripen the grapes. We only pick top quality fruit at Albury which means that yields can vary dramatically from one year to the next. Luckily we have a very dedicated passionate vineyard team who always seem to deliver us great quality fruit.

What is your personal favourite wine of choice?

English sparkling wines now rivel the best in the world – my personal favourite is our Biodynamic Wild Ferment Blanc de Blancs. We don't produce a red wine but the Litmus Pinot Noir is excellent.

How does an average day look like at Albury Organic Vineyard?

Every day is different. Right now we are in the middle of pruning 20,000 vines. During the growing season, we have to trim the vines, spray them to prevent disease and keep the weeds under control. As the grapes ripen we even strip leaves from around the bunches to ensure they get enough sun! Hopefully, as lockdown is lifted we will be welcoming many visitors to the vineyard for tours and tastings during the summer, and then at the end of the season, we will focus on organising the harvest which normally takes place in October. 

Where do you see English wine industry going?

The English wine industry is going from strength to strength. It has quadrupled in size in the last 20 years and is set to do the same by 2040. It won't be long before every pub and restaurant in the UK is serving a range of English still and sparkling wines, which will also be drunk and celebrated around the world.