The logo, a water hen, echoes the Saxon name for the village of Hennerill or Henna Rithe (Rill of the Waterhens). The rill still runs along the vineyard’s western boundary and is home to two families of water hen.
Seyval, a French hybrid, suits English conditions better than most other varieties. It crops well and is milldew resistant. Hendred Vineyard uses a slightly modified version of double Gryot training and cane pruning. the Mackinnons started to make their own wine on the premises.
The present winery is slightly more sophisticated than its predecessor but by no means "state of the art”. The Wilmes press is simple but effective and the original fibre glass tanks are still used with stainless steel plate and cartridge filters. A small bottling line completes the operation.
Hendred Vineyard
Sheep
House Barn
Ludbridge
Mac and Mary Mackinnon planted Hendred Vineyard in April 1972 on part of the small holding attached to Corner House (formerly Corner Dairy). Allins Lane forms the eastern boundary, Mill Lane to the south and the A417 to the north. The ground slopes gently towards West Hendred.
Initially they had 800 Reichensteiner vines in rows 9 feet apart, each vine at 4 foot intervals. This was the first of the variety planted in England.
The first wine was made in 1976 from a crop of 3˝ tons.
In 1978 a small winery was established and the house and half the land, including the vines, was sold in 1991 (see Corner House Vineyard).
A new vineyard was planted on the remaining land and a new winery established in 1992.
This involved the planting of approximately 3000 Madeleine Angevine and 3000 Seyval Blanc varieties.
The Madeleine is a German hybrid that produces a grape with a slightly Muscat flavour and is inclined to flower late but is ready to harvest early.
