Rowton

Almost at the mid-point between Tanners HQ in Shrewsbury and our warehouse in Welshpool, twin sisters Zoë and Melissa Evans decided to diversify the farm that has been in their family for three generations. In addition to farming Limousin cattle and growing various crops they created a B&B and a cellar door tasting and sales area from two old barns; and, most importantly to us, decided to plant a vineyard.

In May 2020 they identified a 5 acre site, southeast facing, on a gentle slope and chose to plant PIWI grape varieties. PIWI is a contraction from the German pilzwiderstandsfähige and means fungus resistant; these include the white grapes Solaris and Seyval Blanc as well as the red variety Pinot Noir Précoce. By choosing these rather than more conventional varieties the twins need to use less intervention and chemicals in the vineyard, better for them, the planet and the wines! As they get started the wines are made for them at Halfpenny Green nr Stourbridge, but the goal is to build their own winery at the farm and do it themselves. Their first vintage was the very successful 2022 and as the vines mature the wines will get even better in the future.