TILTRIDGE Vineyard in Upton is preparing for a week-long celebration to mark English Wine Week, which runs from Saturday to Sunday, May 23-31.

The shop at Tiltridge will be open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday for free wine tastings, and one lucky customer calling in during the week will win a bottle of the vineyard’s dry and medium dry Elgar wines.

A special event on the Friday evening (May 29) will see guests enjoy a tour of the vineyard, accompanied by one of its owners Peter Barker, followed by a tasting of Tiltridge wines. There will then be a light supper including smoked salmon, local cheeses and, of course, a complimentary glass of wine.

This event costs £15 and numbers are limited, so early booking is essential, by calling 01684 592906.

Tiltridge owner Sandy Barker said business is strong at the vineyard.

“We thought we would be dropping a lot of sales because of the credit crunch but business has held up surprisingly well since Christmas,” she said. “English wine is a very fast growing market. We are looking forward to a better summer this year after two rotten ones. Last year produced some very good grapes but just not a huge amount of them.

“I am sure that if we get the weather this summer then the vines will do the business.”