It's not a book, but...

First, a confession. This blog was meant to be a book, and it was meant to be finished at least two years ago.
It was John Lennon who said 'life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans', but I can't honestly blame much more than prevarication for not completing the project.
Even so, times change. It was when I was offered the chance to create a website for a local farm shop that a small light went on in my dull head. This was a much quicker route to getting things done.
So, pulling together some of the research I'd already done, I've committed to at least trying to promote the surprising diversity of wine growing and production in what might be considered to be a 'too-northerly' part of the world.
Shropshire is probably close to the northern edge of what's possible, but maybe that edge is moving further north all the time. You'll notice, too, that I've included some of our near-neighbours in the Shropshire story.
Since I started the research, there's been a significant spurt in the number of newer vineyards. My interest was first piqued by Ram Chahal and family at Rodington, but since then we've seen Hencote on the rise in Shrewsbury, Colemere starting to sell their wine from Ellesmere way, and only the other week, Zoe and Melissa Evans planting a whole new vineyard next to the Welshpool road just outside Shrewsbury.
We've lost a couple of people, too. David Millington, a wine pioneer from Wroxeter, sadly passed away, while Geoff Ferguson has handed over the reins at Kerry Vale.
What's been interesting, however, is the burst of activity our local vineyards have created on social media platforms like Facebook. Most, it seems, are doing a fine job of self-promotion. I'm hoping that, through this website, I can present a wider overview of the picture in Shropshire.
​There's plenty to do, so please keep coming back.