Accidental Vineyard

People who follow their dreams make my heart sing: people who find their dreams accidentally make my heart sing and dance.

On moving in to Parva Farm, Judith and Colin discovered vines on the neglected, bracken infested land.  The vines planted in 1979 survived, so they decided to cultivate them, without any prior knowledge of viticulture.  The first yield, in 1998, produced fifty six bottles, then in 2006 they went on to produce eleven thousand bottles.  We have marvelled as an abandoned vineyard has been brought to life to produce award winning wines.

Colin and Judith grow a variety of grapes including: Bacchus, Seyval Blanc, Muller Thurgan, Pinot Noir and Regent.  They adapted their farmhouse to include a shop and wine tasting room.  Tours of the vineyard, with excellent views of the abbey, are available for the more adventurous.  There is always a warm welcome!  We have visited Parva Farm Vineyard for two decades because we like to hear about the latest developments in their narrative.  Their achievements seem like a dream, but behind the scenes, I am sure there is a great many ups and downs.  Judith and Colin’s story has attracted visits from Countryfile and the Hairy Bikers. This delightful, industrious couple battled on quietly to become the first vineyard in the area.  The vineyard, on the hillside, can be seen for miles and is testimony to their determination.

Nowadays, Judith and Colin tend the vines and keep sheep on their land – they have exceeded their dreams.  These accidental viticulturists have become experts at nurturing the vines, but they accept that some years one will have bad years: they cannot control the Welsh weather

Authors can take inspiration from vine growers.  The story is nurtured, pruned and cultivated.

Sometimes the narrative flourishes like the healthy vine, but on other days there are too many off shoots to the narrative. On other occasions there is a drought of ideas. It is essential to keep working and chasing the dream, as there may be a dream waiting around the corner.

If one is struggling, then you could take a break and visit some people who can infect you with their enthusiasm.  As a reward for your labour, you could reach for a bottle of the Regent wine.  It tastes of cherry pie and vanilla and will warm your heart.

I confess, a visit to Tintern and the vineyards did contribute to the inspiration of my fictional Welsh village of Delfryn.  In my novel You Can’t Go It Alone, Olivia and Marcus walk to a vineyard and taste some wine.

‘As Olivia and Marcus trekked along the river, they searched for a sight of the vineyard.  Sunlight danced on the river and caressed the trees.  Signs of moss and water damage clung to the row of houses on the opposite side of the road.  The spring sun glowed on Olivia’s skin, as she stopped to glance towards the proud Delfryn Abbey.  Olivia turned around to point out the vineyard on the hill.  Neat rows of naked vines yearned for the heat of the summer sun.  The steep hill leading up to the vineyard distracted from her favourite view of the village.  Buoyed by the promise of wine tasting, Marcus rushed ahead while Olivia struggled to breathe.  The gravel crunched as an old pickup truck climbed up the hill in front of them; a cloud of dust made Olivia cough until she almost fell over.’

The young Marcus, in my novel tastes the wine and his observations remind me of the Tintern wine.

‘The Seyval Blanc is citrusy, light and refreshing.  I prefer the Pinot Noir and the flavours of red berries.  Oh, and the hint of vanilla.’

Cheers, Judith and Colin and thank you for the inspiration!

I urge you to visit Parva Farm to sample Welsh wines, sparkling wines and cider – you won’t be disappointed.

Contact Colin and Judith Dudley:
https://www.facebook.com/ParvaFarmVineyard
Website:
http://www.parvafarm.com/

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.