The experience...
Making wine is lots of fun and we want you to share the experience. The Urban Wine Co was set up to support the development of a collective movement of urban grape growers, producing wine grown locally within communities. We aim to encourage friendship, support and enjoyment amongst members.
The key to making good wine is in the viticulture techniques employed. We have joined up with Bookers vineyard in Bolney, West Sussex to produce wine from each year’s harvest. For the individual this is impossible - the vineyard requires a minimum of 1 tonne of grapes to produce a single pressing of wine. That’s the benefit of the collective. By pooling our grape crop we can achieve the scale to use professional expertise.
The Urban Wine Company’s critical ingredient is the power to bring people closer together. We would like to see more people experience both the fun of production and the friendship and community that comes with membership.
Events
The annual ‘Uncorking Ceremony’ – March 2010. The highlight of the year – the first taste of our freshly made wine. Many members met to toast our success and enjoy an evening of wine, music and kindred spirits.
East London Vineyard - May 2010. We planted 30 vines at Eastlea Community School, an area of high density housing with few pupils having access to a garden. Nurturing the vines will teach the children both gardening skills and how a co-operative works.
Furzedown Festival –June 2010. A community event in the area ‘Chateau Tooting’ was first created. We met lots of old friends and encouraged new ones to plant some vines and bring us grapes.
Trinity Hospice event – June 2010. Urban Wine were proud to run a bar serving our wine at this ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed fundraising.
Feast on The Bridge – Sept 2010 A foodie event on Southwark Bridge, part of the Mayor of London’s Thames Festival. We were invited to return to run a bar offering English wines and spread the word about Urban Wine.