St. Boswell's Latest Marvel: Transformation of a Scottish Potato Field into an Unforeseen Sparkling Wine Producer
In the picturesque Scottish Borders, Lorna and Trevor Jackson have made history by producing the country's first ever "Champagne"-style sparkling wine, known as Borders Bubbly. The couple's vineyard, established nine years ago on a converted one-and-a-half-acre potato field, has proven that champagne-style wine can indeed be made outdoors in the Scottish Borders climate.
The Jacksons' vineyard is unique, being Scotland's only outdoor vineyard successfully producing grapes for winemaking. Last season, they harvested around 32 pounds of grapes, resulting in eight bottles of their bubbly and light Borders Bubbly. The production process was initially very artisanal, with Lorna Jackson recalling stomping the grapes by foot in a garden trough.
The success of Borders Bubbly has been quite novel and promising, potentially paving the way for a new niche in the Scottish wine industry. The couple, who planted 1,000 vines with the help of friends and family, have been overwhelmed by demand and interest in their sparkling wine. As a result, they are exploring scaling up production by building a more industrial facility for wine-making.
Lotte Brundle, the Digital Writer for a platform whose newsletter covers topics such as exquisite houses, the beauty of nature, and how to get the most from life, took the first sip of Borders Bubbly during a toast to her granddaughter on her first birthday. She described the wine as bubbly and light with a fruity taste, and Lorna Jackson expressed surprise at the taste, stating that it will only improve after maturing.
The Jacksons attended viticulture courses at Plumpton College, near Brighton, to learn about vine cultivation. They bottled their Borders Bubbly for the first time last year and are aiming to establish a winery and business plan to produce commercially available bottles within the next year or two, depending on improved harvest yields and productivity enhancements in their vines.
As St Boswells, the farm where the Borders Bubbly is produced, benefits from a favourable microclimate in the south of Scotland, the Jacksons are optimistic about the future of their wine production. With plans to expand and professionalise their production process, the Jacksons are set to continue making history in the Scottish wine industry.
The Jacksons' vineyard, housing Scotland's only outdoor vines successfully creating grapes for winemaking, has grown to capture significant attention with their Borders Bubbly. Lotte Brundle, a digital writer specializing in luxury lifestyle, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden topics, praised the bubbly and light Borders Bubbly, signaling the potential for a new niche in the Scottish wine industry.
