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Wildwood Vineyard Wine Tasting & Train Ride!Did you know just a short 7-minute walk from Eridge Station is the Wildwood Vineyard and we've teamed up to offer you the chance to travel by train to Eridge, followed by the short walk to enjoy a delightful wine tasting before returning to Eridge and taking the train back to Tunbridge Wells West.
Itinery
About Wildwood VineyardWildwood Vineyard is owned by three families - Paul and Andrea Olding, Paul's mum Enid Olding and Andrea's parents Carol and Vic Greenway. Paul is the vineyard manager and was trained at Plumpton College, and subsequently took further qualifications at NIAB EMR East Malling and WSET. During the week, Paul is a tv writer/director
Our adventure started in 2014 with the purchase of a barren plot of grassland and a shaw of woodland. Over the next 18 months, soil nutrients were added to the field and the soil chemistry was adjusted to make it ideal for growing grapevines. The field was also sub-soiled, ‘spaded’, ploughed and harrowed.
In 2016 we planted our field with Bacchus, two clones of Pinot Noir (FR1801 and GM1-11), and Regent. That year the vines all burst into life - we were on our way. At the end of the year, we pruned everything back down to two buds.
2017 started early, and all the vines burst into life. But then the south of England was hit by the worst frosts seen in 15 years. Sadly all the tender new stems got scorched. But the vines had been so well established that a month later, they all reburst with life, pushing out new buds. The vines then grew well over the year. Pruning them during winter set them up with a trunk and three buds just above the fruiting wire ready for year three.
2018 was a spectacular year. The vineyard burst into life and flourished all year. Even taking off a lot of 'green' crop to prevent the vines from exhaustion, we had our first bumper harvest. Our Bacchus was taken to Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex to be made into a fine quality aromatic dry white wine. Our Pinot Noir and Regent was taken all the way up to Sixteen Ridges winery in Herefordshire to be made into a PGI approved delicate rosé and a fruity red.
All our vines are tended by hand to produce premium quality grapes to turn into premium quality English still and sparkling wines. Our Bacchus 2019 was awarded a Silver Medal in the 2020 WineGB awards. Our Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 and our Pandemic Pink 2020 both won Silver Medals in the Independent English Wine Awards.
BOOK YOUR TRAIN TICKETS ONLINE IN EARLY 2025 AND CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR VINEYARD WINE TASTING.
Advanced booking is essential to guarantee your Wine Tasting tour, you must book both the train tickets through this website to travel on the 11:15 or 12:45 from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge and the 13:20 or 14:35 (return of 11:15 tour) or 16:05 (return of the 12:45 tour) from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West and you must CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR VINEYARD WINE TASTING.
BOOK YOUR TRAIN TICKETS ONLINE NOW AND CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR VINEYARD WINE TASTING.
Advanced booking is essential to guarantee your Wine Tasting tour, you must book both the train tickets through this website to travel on the 11:15 or 12:45 from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge and the 14:35 (return of 11:15 tour) or 16:05 (return of the 12:45 tour) from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West and you must CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR VINEYARD WINE TASTING.
If you book online, on the day of your visit you MUST have your eTickets available to show either in a print out or on a mobile device, either will be checked visually by a member of staff before boarding the train.
These tickets are valid for travel on the time shown on the eTicket from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge and the time shown from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West only, they are not valid for travel all day.
Note that a £10 admin fee applies to all booking alterations.
Click here to view our refund, cancellation and alterations policy
FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAN BE FOUND VIA THIS LINK