On our drive from Oxford down to Ridgeview Estate in Sussex, we decided to take my Oxford B&B host’s advice and stop by Bothy vineyard. For one, I was intrigued at the location – Oxford wine? It was a new one for me, and I love new wine experiences. Bothy is also reputed to be the oldest vineyard in the region, and the one closest to Oxford. “Even if you don’t have time to do a tasting and winery visit, do take a look at the artworks there,” said my B&B host. Sculptures? I was intrigued.
After a painless drive thanks to our trusty GPS, we found it. Yes, there were sculptures dotting the entryway and gardens. The winery cellar door, a small cosy shop, was manned by Sian Liwicki, the wife of Richard Liwicki. Richard, she told us, was an Oxford don who was “mad about wine.” Bothy, which he bought some years ago, was the outcome of “his midlife crisis” decision to return to nature and make wine at a time when he was at the top of his profession. Voilà, he decided to become a winemaker instead.
Sian was pouring out a few of their wines to a visitor, and we joined them for a quick tasting. There was their sparkling rosé wine, named Halcyon Days, very evocative I thought. One of their best known, Doctor’s Bacchus 2013 (after Richard, the Oxford professor) is a white blend of Findling, a Müller-Thurgau mutation, with Ortega. Slightly obscure German varieties, all fairly new to me, but which thrive in the cool, damp climate of England and go to make dry, aromatic wines. The 2014, which we tasted, was “mainly Ortega,” said Sian. “All the flavours sing together.” I found it fresh, crisp with a nice, citrus nose.
Then it was on to the Renaissance 2014. Only 600 bottles of this were made due to the really bad dose of hard frost the vineyard suffered last year. In fact, only was a low-yield vintage, yielding only 4000 bottles, as opposed to the 7000 on most good years. “Excellent for Chinese food,” added Sian of this one.
The Oxford Dry 2014 a blend of Huxelrube, Findling, Perle and some Bacchus, she told us. It appealed again because of the sharp crispness and fresh mouthfeel. (All the wines we tasted were young, some very young, but we were assured that they would improve with a little age. Though most are made to be drunk fairly young.)
Finally onto the Oxford Pink 2013, a full bodied bright young rosé, just about as picnic-perfect as you could get. Bothy makes reds too, from Rondo, Dornfelder and Regent – but alas, we didn’t have time to taste it all.
Bothy is the vineyard closest to the city of dreaming spires, so if you’re a wine lover in Oxford, why not take a couple of hours to explore Oxforshire wine? Vineyard tours can be arranged through prior appointment -email Sian at office@bothyvineyard.co.uk.
Bothy Vineyard
Frilford Heath
Abngdon
Oxon
OX13 6QW