Just over a year ago now, we visited the parents of some friends of ours who were getting married, to see the fairly newly planted vineyard. Whilst we were down in Dorset we managed to visit it again. It’s come on amazingly. Rows and rows of the vines set against a slopping hill in their grounds. Here’s Tall Dad being given a lesson in growing grapes.
I do hope he was listening carefully, as we were kindly given a vine to bring home with us. I think I’m going to give it the Prince Charles treatment, and talk to it to make it be as bountiful as possible. 
I wonder when the first bottles of the English wine will be ready, I can’t wait to taste it!
Whenever we visit there, it always makes me wish we lived somewhere with more land, rather than a suburban garden, identical to everyone else. The girls were in their element!
I swear Miss A’s Hair has grown a couple of inches since we have been down here.
A Chinnook even came to say a noisy goodbye, as we headed off to our holiday cottage on Portland.
Love Dorset!
Looks idyllic! Good luck with your vine. Stu has some and they are growing really well, lots of grapes on this year. Miss A’s hair is gorgeous!
It was lovely to see you again Amanda. I am visiting the winery tomorrow to see what they can do with our grapes. Maybe a bottle or three for you when you come again next year, or maybe I will come up north with some. Your vine is a red variety called Rondo from Germany. You can make red or white wine from it but you will have to wait at least three years for some grapes. I will let you have some more vines when you are ready.
I have a vine my MIL bought me and this year it has gone wild and has grapes on, the kids are so impressed! Tis possible in Nottingham!