10.27.2015

last of the summer wine

Seen as we drink enough of it, my best friend decided it was finally time that we learnt a little bit more about wine, and so she booked us into a fabulous wine tasting treat at Dedham Vale Vineyard.



The vineyard was established 25 years ago, and now produces 25 000 bottles of hand crafted English wine each year. The site hosts a lake and nature reserve, alongside acres of vines that we were given a guided tour of. It was incredibly informative learning how the production of wine takes place, how much time and effort goes into producing a quality crafted product, and how much thought goes in to battling year round with Britain's cold and wet climate!

True to form, the day of our visit was very grey and very damp, but the sight of the vineyard and surrounding area was still spectacular. This is quite possibly my favourite time of year to be outdoors, warm autumn colours, crisp winds blushing your cheeks and crunchy leaves to trample over, it was lovely to wander around the site and soak up the autumn atmosphere.

We headed indoors to warm up with wine tasting and a light lunch. Sadly, everybody in our group felt that the wine left a little to be desired. English wine is still very much in its infancy, and perhaps we aren't knowledgeable enough just yet to fully embrace the fresher grass-like taste, but it suffices to say that nobody from the tasting felt the desire to purchase a bottle to take home to enjoy later that evening, although we did all appreciate the effort that went in to making it. We enjoyed a light lunch of cheese, cold cuts and bread and even got to sample a 'wet walnut', something we'd never heard of before, but that they also farm on the site.

I would very much enjoy going back to see the vineyard at work during season. There are chances to get involved with grape picking, and they even host a wine and cider festival that takes place in the summer which sounds like the ideal way to enjoy the area. It was a lovely day out, and one that I would recommend if you ever find yourself wanting something outdoorsy to do in the depths of Essex, just perhaps don't hold high hopes of finding your new favourite tipple.

41 comments:

  1. These photos are wonderful darling * __ *

    La Flò ♡ blog

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  2. Anonymous27.10.15

    Wow, such a picturesque place! I love learning about processes, so this would have been really interesting :)

    Pop over to my blog!

    Sarah
    https://everydayconcepts.wordpress.com

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  3. Gorgeous photos. Such a beautiful colors.

    March and May

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  4. I haven't been to wine yard before, I'd so like to go there and taste some of the fresh wines. Beautiful and colourful photos!

    www.elabellaworld.com

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    Replies
    1. I haven't been to vine yards either but we have a lot of them near the city I live. Such a shame I still didn't visit those. I definitely need to after watching at your beautiful impressions of it, Raj! Have a lovely weekend!

      Ira / JOURNAL OF STYLE / BLOGLOVIN

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  5. What a beautiful vineyard and how refreshing to see photos of one during the Autumn season, as opposed to the height of summer - I hadn't realised they could be so beautiful at this time of year! :)

    Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice
    x

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  6. What a fun little adventure! I'd love to tour a vineyard someday- too cool. :)

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

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  7. LOVE the vibrant colors in these pictures! That property is just gorgeous. I've never seen a vineyard in the fall but the colors are absolutely breathtaking.

    Tristan || Gold Lion Style

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  8. I haven't been to a vineyard for years. I would love to go again and do some wine tasting

    Lauren x | www.laurenapowers.blogspot.com

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  9. This place looks amazing! I love visiting vineyards!

    http://roadesque.com
    http://ourruins.com

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  10. aaahh such a dream for me to visit a vineyard!! so beautiful and serene! :D

    Have a great day!
    Animated Confessions

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  11. Good evening.
    Your blog is wonderful , I am following . You could follow my blog too?
    I loved the look
    Kisses from Brazil!
    http://viciadaporlivro.blogspot.com.br/

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  12. Gorgeous winery!
    www.doreensstylediary.com

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  13. The pictures are lovely! Makes me want to go there RIGHT NOW :)

    Lou of, Steal the Style
    Join my giveaway ♥

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  14. Gorgeous photos! Isn't it nice how autumn colours just offset against grey, gloomy weather - vineyards are so beautiful, it would be cool to see one in its working season!

    Raashi
    http://raashiagarwal.blogspot.com.au

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  15. Amazing pictures, would love to go there!

    Sarah x
    www.palmtreesandheels.com

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  16. Anonymous28.10.15

    I've always fancied a trip to a vineyard as I love wine, and the autumn colours look stunning. Shame the wine wasn't up to scratch though but sounds like you had a lovely day!

    Lucy x- Yellowicing

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  17. Lovely post, the photos are stunning. :) Sounds like you had a really fun trip, although it's a shame that the wine wasn't quite as good as expected. Thank you for sharing! x

    Kay
    http://shoesandglitter.blogspot.co.uk/

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  18. The colours of the leaves in this vineyard is absolutely incredible :) It looks like an incredible experience and it's a shame that the wine didn't taste as good as it looks in berry form


    Rachel xx
    http://www.thedailyluxe.net

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  19. I'd love a visit to this vineyard. Stunning shots!

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  20. Nice to know you had a lovely day out, even though the wine was not much to your liking. The place looks so picturesque! Great photos :)

    "A leave-on exfoliator I swear by" // www.keenonbeauty.com

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  21. Your pictures are amazing, so vivid! I love the pink leaves, it looks like something out of a fairytale! It's a shame it wasn't good enough to buy a bottle but still seems like you had a lovely day :)

    Velvet Blush

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  22. Aw I'd love to go to a vineyard and pick some grapes! It's a shame noone liked it enough to buy a bottle but it still looks like a fun day out!

    www.sophieslittlesecrets.co.uk

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  23. I am a white wine girl but sadly have never been to a wine yard! Great pictures.
    BEAUTETUDE

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  24. This sounds really interesting - I know very little about the production process for wine, and, seeing as I drink it so much, I probably should! x

    Lucy Amelia | flawedfairytale

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  25. Love your pictures lovely. Any day filled with wine and cheese is a good one! If you want really, really good wineries you'll have to visit the Yarra Valley in Australia ;) suchhhh good wine there!!

    www.theemasphere.com

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  26. Nice photos :)
    BLOG M&MFASHIONBITES : http://mmfashionbites.blogspot.gr/2015/10/big-big-world.html
    Maria V.

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  27. Nice photos :)
    BLOG M&MFASHIONBITES : http://mmfashionbites.blogspot.gr/2015/10/big-big-world.html
    Maria V.

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  28. those grapes look beautiful!

    Kisses,
    BLOG | Taislany

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  29. Oh my it looks so nice and calm.. I love your pictures! And I wish I could visit :)

    www.randomstein.com

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  30. Great post dear! Have a nice day:)

    irenethayer.com

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  31. I love your photos, they look so peaceful! Great post :)
    xo Kiki
    http://colormekiki.com/

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  32. These photos are so lovely and wine tasting sounds like such a lovely thing to do towards the changing of the seasons.

    Rae of Love from Berlin
    Bloglovin' // instagram

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  33. The photos are amazing and it sounds like a lovely thing to go and do! I would love to myself!
    Fix Me In Forty Five - A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
    Blog Lovin' // Instagram
    xx

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  34. What a beautiful place!!

    irenethayer.com

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  35. Such beautiful fall photos! Have a nice day :)

    http://www.mintnotion.com

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  36. The last photo is gorgeous! I've never been to a vineyard, but every time i see photos like this one, i question myself as to why I haven't been?!

    xoxo,
    www.thefrugalblogger.net

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  37. How beautiful! I have always wanted to go to a vineyard!

    Angie x | Chocolate & Lipstick || UK Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  38. It sounds like an amzing place, the English countryside is my favorite! The climate there is probably not the best for wine-making though, I'm sure it has to be hard.
    http://carolinapage.eu

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  39. Everything in that vineyard is so instagram worthy. Sooooo jealous!
    Xoxo,
    Jaimie | THE MERMAID IN STILETTOS

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