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NEW HALL WINE ESTATE
Self Guided Vineyard Trail
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VINEYARD TRAIL
Our Vineyard trail is now closed for the season.
Take some time out and relax while walking among the vines at New Hall Wine Estate.
The trail is approximately 1km long and takes you through some of the many varieties grown on the Estate.
Complete with a map, directional signs and some additional information about our rich history, the trail is perfect for a warm summer walk.
Keep an eye out for some of the extensive wildlife that inhabits the vineyard!
Please note: - The trail may be closed when tractor work is being undertaken on the vines - please phone ahead of your visit to check. Please ensure you bring suitable footwear and clothing for the English Weather!
POINT 1
Begin the trail at our Pinot Noir plantation, originally planted in 1972. These vines are amongst our most valuable varietals, on account of the fruit quality and versatility as a component of red, white, rose and sparkling wines.
FACT: The Pinot Noir name comes from the French word for 'pine' (pinot), because the grapes grow in pinecone shaped clusters.
POINT 2
This is our spectacular Maréchal Joffre vine, a red French hybrid, created for it's early ripening qualities and cold hardiness. Amazingly, this vine can produce around 80kg of fruit annually; the equivalent of 75 bottles of wine!
POINT 3
Welcome to Round Meadow; most vines here were planted in the Mid 1970's. In the foreground to your left are the very first Bacchus vines planted in British soil. This varietal is the main blending component in the medium dry wine created exclusively for our Leasing Scheme, and is used to create still, Sparkling and Dessert wine.
FACT: Wine has been produced in the area for nearly 1,000 years. Demonstrating the fact that Crouch Valley is a near ideal place for grape growing.
POINT 4
You'll be passing the reservoir on your right-hand side now, created originally to irrigate the young vines. The vines to your left are Huxelrebe; an underrated varietal in the UK, with similar flavours to Muscat, capable of producing fresh, zesty, tropical wines.....perfect for lovers of s crisp white wine.
POINT 5
You're heading into Brook Field now; one of the largest plantations of heritage Bacchus in the UK. To your far right you'll see our young plantation of Young Red's, which will become an integral part of our Barons Lane Red Wine. Keep an eye out for our family of deer!
FACT: To your right you will see All Saints Church. The Parish records show that vines were plnted by the Church in the 12th Century and the vines were noted in the Doomsday Book. Even George Washington's great great grandfather, Lawrence Washington, Rector of All Saints from 1635, was known to enjoy the local tipple.
POINT 6
Today, Church Hill is home to many of our red varietals, including Acolon, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. In Autumn before leaf fall, leaves from these red varietals turn a vivid post box red shade, whilst the white varietal leaves turn bright yellow/amber; it is a stunning scene indeed.
FACT: The annual grape harvest begins in early September and takes 30 operatives around 25 days to complete the picking.
POINT 7
Turn left and stroll through the Bacchus vines. Within this plantation three are 6 similarly sized plots of Bacchus, making it ideal for field-trials. You may see different pruning methods, cover crops and soil treatments as you look over the rows.
FACT: The Crouch Valley region produces 80% of the grapes grown in Essex as well as producing award-winning wines and supplying quality grapes to many wineries across the UK. With South facing slopes, low rainfall and coastal breezes, the area is protected from frost and produces some of the best vines and premium wines in England.
POINT 8
In front of you is The Square, home to Rondo and Acolon. These vines were planted in 2008, to supply the growing demand for our red and rose wine. Rondo berries have characters of violet and rose with low acidity; perfect for munching on during the harvest! A plantation of this size will normally take 20 pickers around 4 hours to pick by hand.
POINT 9
Follow the arrow through the alley.
POINT 10
To your right is Leyton Field, also know as the Plot That Sparkles, due to the varietals there being used for our sparkling wines.
You're walking through our Reinchensteiner vines now, the fifth most widely planted varietal in the UK, established here in 1987. Capable of ripening in early September, this fruit is a popular blending component in both still and sparkling wines o account of its delicate, aromatic nature.
POINT 11
As you walk through this plantation, you'll be passing the Ortega and Chardonnay. Ortega vines produce crystal-clear spherical berries with intense flavours of conference pear and honeydew melon, and form an integral component of our Signature wine. When you think of Chardonnay, you may evisage heavy, dark oaked wine. However, our Chardonnay wine is vibrant with flavours of ripe fleshy peach and lychee.
POINT 12
As you head up the track, you'll be passing more Bacchus vines on your right.
POINT 13
Turn right and walk past the rows until you reach 14 and turn into the row.
POINT 14
Homeward bound! In the Distance to your right, you may be able to see part of our winery, which has the capacity to produce 250.000 bottles a year.