A look down the rows...
About The Vineyard
We have 25 acres of planted vines which are cared for by our head viticulturist and three grounds workers. We have 7 varieties of grape each with distinct character, flavour and aroma; this is carried through to the wines and gives each blend its own personality. We make red, white and sparkling wine from our grapes, some are blends of the different varieties and some are varietal. We don’t make the wine on site, but it is sent a short distance to a local winery, keeping our carbon footprint low.
The team at Rupera Vineyard are passionate about conservation and sustainability so our vineyard is managed organically, and wildlife is promoted through careful planning and management. Our grounds team have created a beautiful wild meadow of 6 acres which is perfect for walks and full of life. We also leave wild spaces for our hedgehogs and put-up boxes for the birds. Stroll past our wild meadow and you’ll find our sunflower field which can’t be missed.
Our Grapes
White Grapes
Seyval Blanc, Phoenix, Solaris and Reichensteiner are our white grape varieties which are used mostly in our white wine blends. The grapes are some of the most widely used varieties in the UK but aren’t well known among the British public. This is because they are specially developed for our climate so are rarely produced from the most well-known wine regions of France, Italy, Australia etc; that’s not to say they are any less delicious!
Red Grapes
A variety almost everyone has heard of – Pinot Noir. We have a whole 8 acres dedicated to this fantastic grape. Not only is it useful for red wines but is also an important constituent of our sparkling wines. Alongside our Pinot, we have Triomphe d’Alsace and Rondo which produce our deep, rich red wines.
Vineyard Management
Our grapes are trained in a very specific way to maintain plant health and for optimum yield and quality. Pruning and training is done by hand in the winter and can take 3 months. During the summer we remove some grapes to reduce stress on the plants and take out excessive vegetation to encourage airflow and prevent disease naturally – without the need for chemicals.
Our Wines
White Wines
Our most popular white wine is our dry white which is a blend of Reichensteiner which brings floral aromas and Seyval Blanc which creates a crisp finish. Our fuller bodies white is made using Phoenix, a grape which is full of bold flavour and allows this varietal wine to stand in high regard. We have a sweeter white which is a blend of Solaris and Phoenix.
Red Wines
Our varietal Pinot Noir red wine is our award-winning light-bodied red which has been commended for being well balanced. Another award-winning wine is our Rondo-Triomphe blend which is far richer and fuller-bodied; the perfect accompaniment to red meat. We have experimented with aging some red wines and have produced some exquisite examples. Our 2015 vintage is thought to be our best bottle and is only available on the tours and tastings.
Sparkling Wines
Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc work together to create our sparkling wine which is the perfect addition to any celebration. For a bit of a twist, we also produce a blush sparkling wine which contains Triomphe d'Alsace as well, bringing that beautiful, delicate pink colour.
Join Us In The Vines
If you have an interest in how we manage our vines and make our wines, you’ll love our tours and tastings. We encourage any of our visitors who are age 18+ to join us for a tour and tasting to learn about our wines and understand the whole process from vine to bottle.
Vineyard Tour
Contact UsOur vineyard tour takes you through part of the 25 acres and points out the different varieties, explains how they’re cared for and will give a history of the vineyard. This will take about an hour and can be booked in conjunction with a tasting. £15 per person if booked on its own or £30 per person to include the wine tasting. Contact us to book.
Wine Tasting
Contact UsOur wine tasting is very popular for good reason! Who doesn’t love being poured glass after glass of great wine? On the tour, you will be given the chance to taste 6 different wines and will be given tips on how to identify certain qualities in wine. This will cost £25 per person but can be booked in conjunction with the tour for a combined price of £30. Contact us to book.
