A family-run garden centre and food hall in Usk in Monmouthshire is stocking English wines produced by an award-winning Herefordshire-based vineyard using hand-picked grapes.

Morris’ of Usk Garden Centre and Food Hall in Llanbadoc is now selling Foxbury Fields Vineyard’s Bacchus and Ortega wines.

Jane Morris at Morris’ of Usk, said: “We pride ourselves on supporting British and stocking locally sourced produce, so we’re thrilled to be selling Foxbury Fields’ delicious wines in our Food Hall. The wines have been a big hit with our customers already.”

Morris’ of Usk started out as a plant nursery run by Chris and Jane Morris in 1982, mainly growing tomatoes, cut flowers and some annual bedding plants.

In 1990, it expanded into a full garden centre and opened its doors to the public. Chris and Jane’s eldest daughter now manages the garden centre and restaurant, while daughter in-law, Helen Morris manages the Food Hall. More recently Chris and Jane’s granddaughters, Lily and Bella have joined the family business too.

It won Family Business of the Year in 2020 at the Welsh Business Awards and is a well-respected company at the heart of the community it serves.

Heather Williamson, who set-up Foxbury Fields Vineyard in Bromsberrow with her partner Richard Baker, said: “We’re thrilled to have our fantastic wines at Morris’ of Usk. It’s great to have our wines stocked in a family-run business that has the same values as we do.

“Our Bacchus wine is a pale lime-green aromatic dry white wine. It offers complex aromas of elderflower, layered with kiwi, grass and a herbal overlay. Well balanced with length on the palate, this is a classic English Bacchus at 11.5% VOL.

“The Ortega 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 as an ideal accompaniment to fish dishes. Vintages are available at a 11.5% VOL.”

The Bacchus grape grown at the vineyard was created in 1933 by viticulturalist Peter Morio by crossing Silvaner x Riesling with Muller-Thurgau varieties to create a grape that produces a fine white wine.

Originating in Germany, Bacchus has increasingly been grown in the United Kingdom. The climate being colder means the grapes tend to have increased levels of acidity compared to their German counterparts, giving a new flavour take on a classic German grape by keeping it from becoming too intense or sugary.

The Ortega grape is utilised for white wine. It was created in 1948 by Hans Breider at the Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Wein, Obst-und Gartenbau in Würzburg and was discharged with varietal security in 1981. It is a combination of Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe.

Ortega matures early and isn’t susceptible to frosty conditions, making it ideal for wine production in the UK. It is regularly utilised for sweet wines, which are considered to improve with cellaring. Ortega wines often have hints of Muscat and peach, along with a citrus aroma, which produces a crisp and fruity wine. 

Foxbury Fields, which is a South West Vineyards Association Silver medal winner, is now able to sell direct to consumers online via its website www.foxburyfields.co.uk and purchasers can collect their orders from the vineyard by arrangement only.

Its wines are also available for collection, by arrangement only, from Wyevale Nurseries in Herefordshire, which is one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries and celebrates its 91st anniversary this year. Wyevale Nurseries is family-owned and is currently run by the third generation of Williamsons, Heather and Simeon, who are joint Chairmen of the company.

Heather added: “If any other 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 call 07974793367 or visit www.foxburyfields.co.uk. Alternatively, you can follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FoxburyFieldsVineyard.