Our vineyard needs you!

29.6.2023

Our vineyard produces fantastic wines that are sold to support the Trust's work with youngsters. But it takes a lot of work to make it a success - and we really need some extra help!

Our 2 acre vineyard was planted a decade or so ago, and since then has become a roaring success.  The harvest has been growing steadily, and last year yielded 6 tonnes - enough for 6,000 bottles of Whirlow's finest! 

We have red and white grapes, and these are turned into still and sparkling wines by our great friends at Halfpenny Green winery.  The wine is then sold through our shop, in our cafe and at events to generate income to support our charitable work with disadvantaged young adults and children from across the city. 

It's great wine too.  Whilst we haven't entered them in competitions for a few years now, there is still a lot of interest in them.  Last year the chief judge of the WineGB competition pronounced them variously as gold, silver and bronze level wines, with our red being 'better than any in the WineGB competition' according to one Master of Wine!  Praise indeed.

But running a successful vineyard is not for the faint-hearted - it takes a huge amount of work throughout the year.  So we are incredibly lucky that we have a band of dedicated volunteers who do that all-year around on the Trust's behalf.  They get help at harvest time - when it's all hands to the pump - but for the rest of the year they soldier quietly on, making sure everything is as it should be. Ask any of them and they'll tell you it's hard, but hugely rewarding, work

They would love it if there were a few more folk to help share the enjoyment of vineyard life. 

So if you are outdoorsy, handy with a pair of secateurs, fancy learning something new, and want to do it for a great cause, then we could be the place for you!  Our vineyard team tend to meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from about 10am onwards, with each person doing what they can before they have to disappear.  We thought a couple of 'taster sessions' on the 11th and 12th of July would be a great way to get more volunteers - so if you would like to join them then why not email admin@whirlowhallfarm.org and we'll give you the details.

Go on, you might even enjoy it!!