AN ARTISAN Herefordshire vineyard has scooped a Bronze Medal at the 2025 Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) Awards.
Foxbury Fields Vineyard in Bromsberrow achieved the award for its Ortega in a year where the body saw still wines for the first time surpass sparkling in entries and medals.
Heather Williamson, who co-founded Foxbury Fields Vineyard with her partner Richard Baker and is also Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries’ Chairman, says: “The WineGB Awards take place each year and we’re thrilled to have been awarded one of the 2025 coveted medals for our 2023 still, white, Ortega wine, which is made with grapes grown at our little vineyard at the foot of the Malvern Hills.
“Organised and run by the wine industry body, WineGB, the aim and purpose of the awards is to send out a powerful message on the quality, consistency and variety of wines grown solely in England and Wales. It’s wonderful to be showcased alongside our peers, who come from so many different areas and range in sizes from large to micro, like us.
“During the past few years, English wines have seen a boom time and this has been shown by the high calibre of entrants this year. The judges sipped their way through hundreds of entries from lots of wonderful wine producers. The standards were very high this year and we scored an amazing 87 points to achieve our Bronze.”
WineGB is the national association for the English and Welsh wine industry. It represents, leads and supports the sustainable growth of the Great British wine sector.
Melania Battiston, Judging Panel Lead, adds: “With still wines, while the quality is undoubtedly high, they are less predictable, which is part of what makes them so exciting. There’s a sense of freedom and experimentation, with winemakers exploring their own styles and, thanks to WineGB, increasingly gaining well-deserved recognition for it.”
With more than 500 members, WineGB works to cultivate success across the industry. It supports its three key areas of activity: to ensure strong production and a skilled workforce, to increase sales and safeguard quality, and to enhance the reputation of English and Welsh wine.
Heather continues: “It’s really spectacular being recognised by such an important organisation in our sector. It supports our long-held belief that homegrown wine can taste exceptional.
“The Ortega grape is a combination of Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe and the wine we produce is a delightfully perfumed medium dry white wine with refreshing lemon and orange aromas. Crisp and deliciously fruity, it is wonderful on its own, as an aperitif or is an ideal accompaniment to fish dishes. Ortega wines often have hints of Muscat and peach, along with a citrus aroma, which produces a crisp and fruity wine. The judges’ tasting notes described it as having a lemony hue with soft white currant and greengage on the nose. Creamy mid-palate and crisp finish. Interesting texture and weight.”
Ortega matures early and isn’t susceptible to frosty conditions, making it ideal for wine production in the UK.
Foxbury Fields Vineyard, which is a member of Wine GB West has received several Silver and Bronze medals awards for its Ortega and Bacchus wines, sells direct to consumers online and purchasers can collect their orders from the vineyard by arrangement.
The multi-award-winning Bromsberrow vineyard has also just joined five other independent vineyards in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire to pool their experience, expertise and reputation for growing great grapes and making excellent wines.
Collectively, they are known as The Malvern Hills Vineyards, www.malvernhillsvineyards.co.uk, and grow 14 grape varieties across more than 68 acres.
Heather adds: “Making excellent wines is going from strength to strength in our area and together we want to capitalise on this and ensure we make our joint name better known national and internationally. We’re working together to raise awareness and interest in our sector.”
Foxbury Fields Vineyard wines are also available for collection, by arrangement only, from Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, which is Heather’s family business, is one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries and celebrates its 95th anniversary this year.
Heather adds: “If any businesses in the area would be interested in stocking and selling our Foxbury Fields Vineyard wines direct to the public, we would love to hear from them too. They can get in touch with us by calling 07974793367 or emailing heather@foxburyfields.co.uk.”
For further details about Foxbury Fields Vineyard, please visit www.foxburyfields.co.uk.
