New Client : Forty Hall Vineyard

London, July 2024: The Massey Partnership are delighted to be working with Forty Hall Vineyard (FHV) – the first commercial scale vineyard in London since the Middle Ages, and a pioneering social enterprise.

The vineyard comprises of ten acres of vines at Capel Manor College’s Forty Hall Farm in Enfield, North London. It is certified organic and committed to demonstrating environmentally sustainable farming and vine-growing practices. The vines are tended, largely, by a team of dedicated local volunteers, many working year round, in all weathers. They are at the heart of what FHV does.

Founded in 2009, by Sarah Vaughan-Roberts, in partnership with Capel Manor College, FHV contributes to Forty Hall Farm’s aim of educating and bringing people together in the growing, cooking, and eating of local, organic produce.

Wines are produced from the London-grown grapes by organic winemaker Will Davenport, of Davenport Vineyards, with income from wine sales put back into FHV’s ecotherapy project, providing health and wellbeing activities, and to help cultivate a happier and healthier community.

The ecotherapy project provides volunteering opportunities in the vineyard, with the aim of improving mental and physical health through working outdoors in a green environment, being social connected and engaged with horticultural activity and the production of the wines.

Emma Lundie, head of operations at FHV said, “The Vineyard is a beautiful, and unique setting for volunteering, especially within London. As a result, we have over one hundred volunteers, most of who attend weekly, come rain or shine.  Many regard it as a sanctuary.  Their ‘happy place’.

 

“The volunteer community are at the heart of our project, and while they benefit from being in the vineyard and part of a welcoming community, without their hard work, resilience and dedication we simply couldn’t exist.  An organic vineyard requires lots of hands-on care throughout the year, and our volunteers take immense pride in their work and making sure we get a good harvest that will produce wines to be equally proud of. 

 

“This year sees us celebrate 15 years. In 2023 our hard work was rewarded with a bumper harvest and we are now releasing the delicious wines that Will Davenport produced from our certified organic London grapes. Our wines and community work go hand in hand, with our wellbeing project financially supported through the sales of these single estate wines, produced only from hand-harvested grapes, grown and picked by our volunteers, here at Forty Hall.”

FHV is one of a rapidly growing number of ecotherapy projects (also known as green care or green exercise projects) around the UK, and research shows that physical activity in the natural environment will make you feel better about yourself. In previous years the project has been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, Power to Change and more recently through individual donations to their fundraising page, but the goal is to be self-sustainable primarily through wine sales, but also tourism and other vineyard activities.

FHV has three wines available for purchase, all of which are single estate, certified organic and low intervention, produced by award-winning organic winemaker Will Davenport.

The award-winning FHV London Sparkling Brut 2019 (£35 rrp, 12% ABV) is a single vintage English sparkling, believed to be the first made from London-grown grapes (a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier), in the traditional method. With a rich softness and a lingering finish, it is perfect for drinking as an aperitif, or with canapes and light starters. It will develop further with age.

 

The Forty Hall Vineyard Ortega 2023 (£19 rrp, 10.5% ABV) is made using Ortega grapes, picked and pressed on the same day in September 2023. It is a clean, fresh and zesty wine that is highly drinkable. The German grape is earlier to ripen and known for its low acidity, and is the perfect aperitif, or pairs well with seafood and spicy foods.

 

FHV’s Bacchus 2023 (£19 rrp, 11% ABV) is again made from hand-harvested single estate Bacchus grapes, and picked and pressed on the same day, in late September and early October 2023. It is an aromatic, fruity, single varietal white wine with notes of elderflower, gooseberry and apple blossom with apricot and clementine zest on the palate. It makes for an excellent aperitif, and a perfect match for Thai and Vietnamese food.

The wines, as well being available to purchase online, can also be found at Forty Hall Farmers’ Market which takes place on the second Sunday of each month. It is London’s only farmers’ market set on a working organic farm. Running from 10 am to 3pm, it is a bustling community event, and free to attend. Ticketed tours and tastings also take place on these days.

 

To purchase Forty Hall Vineyard wines please visit the website https://www.fortyhallvineyard.com.

Alternatively, wines are available to purchase form Forty Hall Farm shop (Friday to Sunday) or the monthly Farmers’ Market.

 

For further information please contact:

Diana Massey – [email protected]

Charlotte Allen – [email protected]

Editor’s notes:

Address: Forty Hall Vineyard, Forty Hall Farm, Forty Hill, Enfield EN2 9HA
Forty Hall Vineyard is located at Forty Hall Farm, and was founded in 2009 by Sarah Vaughan-Roberts, in partnership with Capel Manor College who manage the Farm in Enfield, North London. It comprises of ten acres of vines, is certified organic and committed to demonstrating environmentally sustainable farming and vine-growing practices.
Forty Hall Farm is a 170 acre organic, mixed farm and local food hub. It has a variety of animals, including rare breeds and hosts a thriving community orchard, a forest garden and a new market garden. The farm’s meat, vegetables and fruit are sold to shops and restaurants across London and at the monthly farmers’ market. FHV contributes to Forty Hall Farm’s aim of bringing people together in the growing, cooking, and eating of local, organic produce.
Forty Hall Farmers’ Market takes place from 10am to 3pm, on the second Sunday of each month - 14 July, 11 August, 8 September, 13 October, 10 November, 8 December 2024.
Vineyard tours and wine tastings are ticketed, with bookings taken via the Forty Hall Vineyard website. Tickets for the 90 minute tour are priced at £17.50 per person (children may accompany participating adults, but must be supervised).
FHV’s ‘Picnic in the Vines’ fundraising event takes place on Saturday 7 September, from 12.30–3pm, tickets priced from £20 per person (£30 to include a picnic).
FHV is easily accessible by public transport, with three train stations nearby (Enfield Chase, Enfield Town and Turkey Street). It is approximately 40 mins by train from Liverpool Street. The 191 bus stops at the bottom of Forty Hill. Check the TfL Journey planner for the quickest route from anywhere in London. There is also a car park at Forty Hall for those driving.
FHV’s London Sparkling Brut was awarded a Silver Medal in the Independent English Wine Awards 2018.
Corporate volunteering and support: FHV are delighted to discuss team-building activities, and ways they can help businesses meet their corporate social responsibility targets.