Focus Spring 2015
Page 6
The Spring season is just beginning to make itself felt
on the vineyard at Giffords Hall.
Cold days of skilful pruning by Giffords Hall’s long term pruning
expert, James, has suddenly restored neatness and order after
last years prolific growth. The vines are left long in order to avoid
early frosts, and tied down in May when the worst of the threat
has passed. Meanwhile the new vintage for 2014 is in last stages
of final filtration and rigorous tasting and blending before English
Wine week commences on May 23��, and the big trade tastings
and our summer season kick off. Just over 2000 people visited
Giffords Halls cellar door last year and enjoyed tasting the wines
in the shop and strolling around the vines. Nigh on 17000 bottles
were sold in hotels, shops and restaurants around the country
and pallets were sent to Hong Kong, Tokyo and Switzerland.
This year our season will start at Easter, with the shop and al
fresco café open, and work on display from both painter Lindsay
Maynard and glass artist Gail Bushell. Later in the season we
are looking forward to work from exciting local artists and
sculptors such as Becky Munday, Tom Lund Lack and Janette
Lazelle. We are holding two open days this summer on a
different format with two grand tour and tasting events
planned, tickets for which will be available on our website
www.giffordshall.co.uk
and on social media.
Our harvest 2014 was fast and furious and spectacularly good,
so as well as our core lines of Rose, Whites, Sparkling and Pinot
Noir, we are also are looking forward to launching two new wine
styles this year – an oaked white fume, and a special full bodied
red. In deference to our historical roots and our area, we are
calling this red wine ‘St Edmundsbury’ and our launch will be held
at Bens Restaurant - a new and successful restaurant in Bury St
Edmunds who stock our local wines as well as a great menu of
locally sourced and grown produce.
English wines are gaining in popularity and many local people are
enjoying their own regional wines especially in East Anglia, often
considered the best area in Britain for viticulture. Let us look
forward to another great English summer!
Ben’s Restaurant
NUMBER 1
Delicatessen and Cafe
Local Cheeses, Hams, Jams
& Chutneys
Cafe open for breakfast, lunch
and snacks
Afternoon Coffee and home-
made Cakes available
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat 9-5pm Closed Sundays
1 High Street, Clare
Suffolk
01787 278932
Fresh Bread Daily
The Cock Inn 3 Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk CO10 8PX
www.thecockinnclare.co.uk
Email: thecockinn_clare@btinternet.com
The Cock Inn
01787 277391
Linked with Adnams Brewery we proudly
serve up to 4 Ales and we are listed in
the Camra Good Beer Guide.
We offer 2 Bars, a Restaurant
and large Beer Garden, making us the
perfect family location.
Vines at Gifford’s Hall