Getting prepared for Christmas

Planning an Easter weekend lunch or a sumptuous spring dinner? If you want to be sure your table looks the part, then here are a few handy hints:  Cover your table with a crisp plain linen tablecloth and contrasting napkins. If you go for a plain cloth, then you can change your table décor by using different coloured napkins and other accessories. It is easier on the purse to do this, and it also means you achieve a classic, stylish look effortlessly. Lay your placemats and put the main course knife and fork either side of each mat, then lay the starter cutlery outside this. Pop the dessert spoon above the fork with its handle to the right. Water glasses should be place above the knives with wine glasses above to the right. White wine glasses be placed to the right of the water goblets. Arrange fresh spring flowers as a centrepiece and add handwritten place cards for a personal touch. Make sure your floral arrangement isn’t too high so people can’t see or speak over it. Place napkins on the side of the fork.

If you’re looking for something different to try for a dinner party, how about giving ceviche of scallops a go and use our Bacchus white wine as an ingredient in the dish, as well as to serve with it. Scallops are still in season in the UK in April, so this might be a great addition to your Easter feasting plans too. Remember to take care when eating seafood and to buy your ingredients from a reputable shop. Always seek specialist advice from an experience fishmonger. Serves four people Ingredients 8 fresh scallops cleaned 200ml olive oil 25ml of our Bacchus white wine, also serve the dish with a glass 50ml vermouth Juice and zest of 1 lime Juice and zest of ½ lemon 1 shallot peeled and sliced 1 clove of garlic peeled sliced. Micro herbs Coriander, pea shoots or similar, parsley Herb oil 1 bunch of coriander 300ml olive oil Method Herb oil Wash thoroughly the coriander and dry on a cloth. Bring to the boil a pan of salted water and blanch the coriander for one minute and place into ice cold water until cold. Drain the coriander and squeeze out excess water pat dry. Place the blanched coriander into a food processor with the oil and blend for three-four minutes until the oil is bright green. Leave the oil to infuse for five minutes. Have a piece of cheese cloth and double it over. Place the cheese cloth under cold water until soaked, wring out the cloth. Place cloth into a fine sieve, make sure the cloth is double thickness. This will stop any sediment from the herbs straining through. Pour the oil into the cloth and leave to strain naturally. Once strained pour into a jar and chill. For the marinade Place the olive oil, wine, vermouth, lemon and lime juice into a mixing bowl and whisk together, add the garlic and shallot, season with salt and pepper. Leave at room temperature for at least one hour. For the scallops  Slice the scallops into four-six rounds depending on the size of the scallops. Season the scallops and place into the marinade for 10 minutes. The scallops will start to turn white once ready. Gently strain the scallops from the marinade and place onto a plate to drain. Check the seasoning and plate up the scallops. Spoon over a little of the ceviche marinade. Mix a selection of the herbs; season and place on top of the scallops, drizzle over the salad and scallops some of the coriander oil and serve.

Not only do we have an abundance of different British produce in this country for us all to enjoy, but by purchasing it there’s a bigger positive impact to be had too. Nutrition Eating seasonally is one of best ways of eating healthily. In season, fruit and vegetables contain the most nutrients and, luckily, English wine is perfect in all seasons! Backing the economy When you buy British, you are supporting to the economy around you. Many small producers, like us, would be unable to survive without the backing of those in the neighbourhood around them. Carbon footprint Buying closer to home reduces your mileage and, as a result, your impact on the environment. Traceability Buying our wine guarantees you’ll know exactly where your grapes were grown and who has picked and made it.

Ortega, pronounced or-TEG-a, is a variety of white grape that does well in cooler weather conditions, making it ideal to grow here in Herefordshire. How to serve Ortega To really appreciate the profile of an aromatic English Ortega like ours, it’s best to serve it cool and chilled. However, if it’s too cold though that’s not ideal, so make sure you don’t leave it in the fridge for too long. The perfect temperature is between 8-10°C (46-50°F). This assists with unlocking the fruity and floral aromas from the wine. If you’ve been keeping our Ortega at room temperature, then a brief 30-minutes in the fridge will be perfect. That’s just enough time to refresh it and not enough to suppress its lovely aromas. Remember not to use ice too! Choose your glass A decent-sized angular white wine glass is ideal. It will permit the floral notes to shine. Just desserts…and more Our Ortega is a versatile wine that is an excellent companion to many dishes both sweet and savoury. Its floral notes make it a perfect partner for desserts, particularly fruity ones. Go for something like an apple crumble or an apricot tart. The almost sweet nature of Ortega makes for a great pairing with Asian spices too. Try a glass when you next have Indian, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine. Its brightness means it goes very well with seafood and another perfect match is with milder cheeses as its fruitiness cuts through the creamy nature of the dairy product.

If you’re planning on hosting a special event this year and are wondering how to serve the wines you’ve chosen or are planning on selecting, please use our simple and easy guide below. How much wine will you need? Working out the quantity of wine you’ll for your event depends on several factors. They are: The type of event you are hosting How many people will be attending How long the event will last. Make sure you know how many guests you’re expecting and the type of wine you’ll need. Allow at least half a bottle of red and white wine per person for a corporate dinner. For a wedding reception or celebration where there’s a toast planned with sparkling wine, make sure you have allowed for more than one glass per guest to prevent disappointment. What glasses to use Glassware sets the tone and is essential when it comes to the enjoyment of the wine you’re serving. For sparkling wines, go for Champagne flutes, coupes or even a white wine glass so the bubbles are preserved and the aromas are allowed to breathe. Depending on the type of white or red wine you’ve chosen, will dictate your choice of glasses. For lighter and more delicate choices, a Burgundy glass is perfect. For medium to full-bodied wines, the classic Bordeaux glass is ideal. Get your serving temperature just right For a crisp and fresh drinking experience, serve non-vintage sparkling wine at around 6-8°C. To better showcase its complexity, a vintage sparkling wine or Champagne should be served slightly warmer than an ‘ordinary’ sparkling wine. Lighter-bodied white wines, like our wines, prefer to be served at a cooler temperature and fuller-bodied whites at a slightly warmer one – aim for somewhere between 7-13°C. It’s very similar for red wines, with the range running from 12-18°C. Fuller bodied red wines benefiting from being served a little bit warmer than others at around 16-18°C.

Bacchus, pronounced ‘back-us’ and named after the Roman god of wine and partying, is the perfect white grape variety Valen-wine drink. Why? Because it can elevate any meal you create at home into a celebration and it also goes well with lots of dishes. What’s it like? Our Bacchus is known for its aromatic and refreshing qualities and like other English versions of this wine, it’s similar to the well-loved Sauvignon Blanc. Why buy it? Bacchus is a credible English wine on the world stage and is well-respected globally, so it has plenty to recommend it. Plus, by buying it in the UK where it’s been produced, you’re actually helping to reduce your wine consuming carbon footprint, boosting the country’s economy and are backing British businesses. What dishes go well with our Bacchus Bacchus wines are pretty versatility when it comes to pairing them with food. Here are some suggestions for dishes to try: Go greens Bacchus pairs beautifully with fresh vegetables. If you’re after a vegetarian option or something light for your Valentine’s lunch, or evening meal, put together a fresh green salad, a light asparagus-based dish or go for something with extra herbs. Spice it up If you like your food hot, then a Bacchus wine will complement it. Its fruity profile works well with Mexican and Thai meals, harmonising bursts of fruitiness with the spice. Try this Thai fish cake recipe . Pop to the cheesemongers We’ve said it before, but we can’t over emphasise this – Bacchus and goat’s cheese are a match made in heaven. The tanginess of the cheese paired with the crispness of our wine is a delight and sure to wow your Valentine. How about giving a lovely goat’s cheese salad a go? Seafood success Another perfect pairing that we’ve often touted is seafood and Bacchus. It’s a love match! The wine is great with grilled fish, seared scallops or traditional fish and chips. Why do they work so well together? The richness of the seafood is cut through by the wine’s acidity and it’s divine. What’s not to love? We’re fans of Rick Stein’s seafood risotto recipe .

This month we’re supporting the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. It’s from January 24-26 and all you have to do is count the birds you see in your garden or nearest outdoor space to help monitor our feathered garden friends. Try our simple ideas to help you get the most out of your Big Garden Birdwatch during the weekend of January 24-26. Set up a bird feeder, or table, near a window so you can easily see what’s going on in your garden if you’re doing your count there and not in another outdoor space. Use the RSPB website to help you identify the birds you see. Birds are more active first thing in the morning, so by doing your count then, you'll increase the number you see. Don't worry if you don't record all the birds you see, just note the ones you can clearly identify. You don't have to have a garden – you can do the count in your local park or any green space. Only count the highest number of birds you see at any one time. Use the RSPB counting sheet will help you keep a tally of what you see and the pictures will help with identification. Send your records in online to the RSPB – it’s quick and easy and it saves the charity money, so more can go towards helping wild birds. The Big Garden Birdwatch is an ideal excuse to take an hour out for yourself – make the most of it: make a cup of tea, get out the biscuits and turn the phone off. This hour is for you and the birds. It’s great for mindfulness!

New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) – out in October last year – suggests English vineyards could improve the experience of visiting customers by investing in biodiversity onsite.  Researchers found visitors enjoyed their vineyard tours more when they listened to diverse birdsong. Biological Sciences UEA’s School of Biological Sciences, Dr Natalia Zielonka, who was a lead author on the research paper, said: “To understand the direct contributions of sounds to our experience of nature, we studied ‘soundscapes’ in English vineyards and measured their effect on vineyard visitors’ experience of tours.” Sounds collectively form soundscapes and play an important role in people’s experience of the outside world. Soundscapes However, unprecedented biodiversity declines are silencing natural soundscapes, while the sounds of ever-increasing urbanisation are becoming dominant. The study was performed in English vineyards like ours, which, like other agricultural systems, are encouraged to safeguard biodiversity. Dr Zielonka adds: “To mirror what soundscapes with more birdsong may sound like, we hid speakers in vineyards along tour routes. These played additional birdsong to some tour groups, creating ‘enhanced soundscapes’ that were louder and more diverse. Engrossed “At the end of tours, we collected responses from visitors through a survey to measure their tour experience. Vineyard visitors who experienced our enhanced soundscapes reported improved tour experience and showed stronger agreement with statements that the sounds in the vineyard were appealing and made them feel engrossed.” The researchers say the findings demonstrate how measures to conserve birds could also enhance vineyard visitors’ experience of the vineyards, which they hypothesise could in turn benefit the industry. Our biodiversity Here at Foxbury Fields, we’re already heavily into biodiversity and enhancing the natural environment in and around our vineyard. We do regular bird counts along with our nearby sister business Wyevale Nurseries . Spring bird survey Back in April 2024, Garden Design and Domestic Landscape Sales Manager at Wyevale Nurseries, Adrian Hoare completed his spring survey of the birds on the nursery. He recorded four of the nation’s top five: House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon. He also saw some more usual birds when compared to the 2024 RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch results for Herefordshire. These included, to name just a few, the Chiffchaff and Treecreeper. Environmental management In total, Adrian recorded a healthy 44 species of wild bird onsite. A clear indicator that we are collectively managing our environment well.

Our LAST ONLINE ORDERING date for 2024 is Friday, December 20. We’re closed from December 20 until January 6, 2025. Thank you.