First sales of our sparkling white "Blanc de Noirs" will be in 2027
Marlbank Vineyard
Growing outstanding grapes in an area of outstanding natural beauty
Marlbank Vineyard
Growing outstanding grapes in an area of outstanding natural beauty
It's all about the grapes and the "terroir"
Our Home
Marlbank Farmhouse is situated just east of the Malvern Hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The farm dates back to the early 18th century, and typically for this area had a history of apple and pear orchards, making renowned cider and perry well into the 20th century.
Our Vineyard
In 2021, we created our one acre vineyard, planting 1540 Pinot Noir vines in marl (clay) soils. The marl helps grapes to produce rich, structured wines and is similar to the soils in top Burgundy vineyards, which produce some of the world's best Pinot Noir wines. Our plot is at an ideal altitude for viticulture, with a North/South orientation for maximum photosynthesis. We have improved drainage to protect the vine roots, and planted native trees and hedging to enhance shelter for the vines and to increase biodiversity around the vineyard
Our Grapes
Our goal is to grow Pinot Noir grapes of the highest quality. With the climate changing, this region of England is emerging as a hotspot for quality viticulture. The small size of our vineyard allows us to devote the time needed to cultivate the grapes with utmost care, carrying out all tasks by hand.
Our Wine
We are working with Three Choirs Winery where our grapes are transformed into a mouth-watering ‘Blanc de Noirs’ - the French name for a sparkling white wine produced from black grapes.
Three Choirs Winery is one of the longest established vineyards in England, with a reputation for producing their own Blanc de Noirs.
Our 2023 harvest will be ready to drink in 2027
AONB: 7 bat species and more than 50 bird species are seen on the property
Marlbank is lovingly nurtured as a sustainable vineyard. In France, roses have been traditionally used as an early warning system for the arrival of mildew, which means that you can use organic disease control. We also think that they look splendid at the end of the rows.
Rotational mowing encourages diversity of plant species, and provides food sources for butterflies and pollinating insects.
We encourage different plant species around the perimeter of the vineyard to encourage biodiversity in both flora and fauna. Bats, birds, insects and hedgehogs flourish in this environment
The Marlbank Vineyard manager
Jeremy
I have worked in the agricultural business for 35 years, including 17 years in France. I have been a Chevalier du Tastevin at the Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy, and I am a current member of the Academie d'Agriculture de France. When we came back from France, we found the Marlbank Farmhouse, and planted our micro-vineyard. I will bring all my experience from France, and from Plumpton College, to growing great grapes in this area of outstanding natural beauty. A former international rugby player, I will not shirk the hard work necessary to improve the grapes year on year.