www.giffordshall.co.uk Hartest, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 4EX
I was excited to kick off my 2022 vineyard tours at Giffords Hall.
Tucked away down a leafy lane, this vineyard with its black barns, vases of fresh peonies, a rescue dog in charge of “Customer Relations”, plus horses, sheep and peacocks make for a Waitrose PR agent’s dream – and in fact Waitrose do stock Giffords’ wines. Want a taste of English countryside? Take a trip to Giffords Hall – you can even stay in an AirBnB next door. I joined a tour and learnt about the sustainable practices they’ve adopted, then settled down for a glass of beautiful English Bacchus in the sunshine.
The experience
Our tickets cost £25 each for a two hour tour and tasting. There were about nine people plus a couple of children on the tour which made it feel intimate and personal with plenty of opportunity to ask questions of our informative tour guide Kim.
We started by walking around two of the vine planted fields. Although not an organic vineyard, Giffords Hall focuses on using the natural environment with vines planted on gentle slopes so that frost doesn’t settle; sheep allowed to graze between the vines after harvest; and specific trees planted to provide soil nutrients, shelter and soak up the excess water which could otherwise cause the vines to produce more leaves than fruit.
We moved inside to see the fermentation vessels where the juice from the grapes (the must) ferments into wine before being sent offsite to be bottled. All the bottles are hand labelled – a real labour of love – and we saw the label machines and capsules they put over the corks which complete the presentation of the wine ready to sell.
After the tour we sat outside in the sunshine (there is indoor seating for inclement weather days) and tasted three wines: a white Bacchus, a Rosé and the red St Edmundsbury. These were accompanied by a small tasting platter of salami, cheese and breadsticks as well as glasses of water. We also tried three of the liqueurs: apple made from Giffords fruit, sloe gin and a limoncello.
We then visited the cellar shop where all the wines and liqueurs are available to purchase as well as other gift items. A 5% discount is offered if you purchase 6 bottles. There is also a stall selling lunch platters, coffee, ice cream and cake.
Why you should visit
Tours are welcoming and relaxed but provide comprehensive information. The tastings give a good overview of Giffords wines and the little food platter is a nice touch. Family friendly as children can attend for free (no tasting) and dogs can be taken (on a lead).
Giffords has just opened a pretty AirBnB next door to the vineyard.
New learning fact
Grass grazed short by sheep and a slight slope ensures potentially devastating spring frost slides away from vines.
Recommended wines to try
Giffords Brut Reserve NV: Unusually made from Reichensteiner grapes (rather than the more traditional Chardonnay/Pinot Noir combination) this fruity, refreshing sparkling wine has aromas of blossom and flavours of red apple with a soft mouthfeel and gentle mousse. There are hints of brioche from the traditional method of production. A great summer apéritif with more substance than Prosecco.
Giffords Bacchus 2021: If you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, try this Bacchus – lots of gooseberry, grass and elderflower on the nose and palate. A crisp, refreshing wine with long length. Serve well chilled.
Giffords Suffolk Rosé 2019: Longing for summer sunshine? Try Provence in a glass with this delicate floral wine with aromas of roses and red fruits.