DON'T JUST BRING A BOTTLE TO A DINNER PARTY, BRING A VINEYARD

It was once all about choosing the right bottle of wine to give to your host.

But the conundrum has become more complicated, for now you can bring the means to produce the bottle at home.

Grow-your-own vineyard kits are increasingly popular in the UK, driven by a boom in the popularity of British wine and the increasingly warmer climate.

Ned Trier, who runs the Gluttonous Gardener plant gift firm, said sales of grape vine kits were rising, with 60,000 sold over the past ten years.

'With the weather getting milder, you can get a harvest of grapes further and further north,' he added.

'People are also more aware of the English wines on the market and that it is possible to successfully make wine in this country, which makes them feel they have a greater chance of succeeding with growing vines themselves.'

His firm's gift sets range from a £66 'wine and vine' crate, with a bottle of red or white wine and a grape vine in the same colour, to a full vineyard kit containing 20 red and white vines for £200.

The gift kits are also available from other sellers including Gift Republic, Amazon, Indoors Outdoors and Plants4Presents. But some experts say it is unlikely most amateur gardeners will grow enough grapes to make wine.

Kendall Platt, a gardening coach, said it would require at least 20 vines to produce wine, adding: 'The idea that you can have a back garden vineyard is a bit of a gimmick.'

Mr Trier believes one vine can produce enough fruit for three to five bottles – but admits only around a fifth of those who grow his vines end up making wine.

2024-07-12T23:06:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd