A few hundred yards south west of Ickworth House, in the midst of rolling parkland, lies what was once the estate's walled kitchen garden. The five acre plot, which surrounds the 1st Earl of Bristol's summerhouse, once needed twenty six gardeners to tend its various crops. Table Grapes were grown here in Victorian times and were stored over winter in the summerhouse.

In in 1995, the National Trust's centenary year, the garden returned to the cultivation of grapevines with the planting of 2.5 acres of vines, this time with the emphasis on the production of fine English wine. The south facing slope of the walled garden provides an idyllic setting for the only commercial vineyard on National Trust land.

The Vineyard
The east side of the vineyard was planted in 1995 with Bacchus and Auxerrois vines. Bacchus is derived from Riesling and Sylvaner varieties and Auxerrois, much planted in Alsace, is similar to Pinot Blanc. The west side was planted in 1996 with a fairly new red variety known, rather romantically, by the numbers 6494/5. It has now been officially named 'Rondo'. 70 Pinot Noir vines were also planted, against the south-facing northern wall of the vineyard.

The Wines

Red: The Earl Bishops Reserve is made from Rondo grapes. It is deep in colour, has a rich, plummy aroma and a satisfyingly smooth, lingering flavour.

White: Walled Garden White is made from Bacchus grapes and has a deliciously crisp, herbaceous and fruity flavour.

Sparkling: Ickworth sparkling wine is produced from Auxerrois and Pinot Noir grapes. There is a rosé Suffolk Pink as well as a white.

The bottle fermented wine, made in the ‘Méthode Traditionelle’ as in Champagne, takes three years from harvest to release. The first Suffolk Pink vintage was 1999 and the first white, 2001. Both are produced in limited quantities.

Winegrowers:
Charles and Jillian Macready

©National Trust

Further Information
Ickworth wines are available in the National Trust and Ickworth Hotel restaurants and, to take away, from the National Trust shop in the Rotunda.

Vineyard open days are on the first Sunday of each month from June to October.