Forty Hall Vineyard: London's Only Commercial Organic Vineyard Combining Award-Winning Wines with a Social Mission
Tucked into the rolling grounds of Forty Hall Farm in the London Borough of Enfield sits one of the capital's most improbable agricultural enterprises. Forty Hall Vineyard is a ten-acre, Soil Association-certified organic vineyard, tended largely by local volunteers, that produces award-winning English still and sparkling wines just a forty-minute train ride from Liverpool Street. It is the only commercial-scale vineyard in London since the Middle Ages, and every bottle sold helps to fund an ecotherapy programme that has supported the mental and physical wellbeing of hundreds of north Londoners.
A Brief History: From One Acre in 2009 to London's Only Commercial Vineyard
Forty Hall Vineyard was founded in 2009 by Sarah Vaughan-Roberts, who approached every London borough in search of land for a community vineyard. Enfield was the only one to respond, and the inaugural acre of vines was planted by hand with the help of a small group of volunteers.
That single acre has grown to ten (about 4.04 hectares) and now contains around 13,500 vines, mostly Bacchus, Ortega, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The vineyard sits on land belonging to Capel Manor College - London's environmental college - within the historic Forty Hall Estate. It is constituted as a not-for-profit limited company and was awarded the rare "Garden of Sanctuary" status in recognition of the therapeutic value of the green space.
From the outset, the project has been a social enterprise first and a winery second. As founder Sarah Vaughan-Roberts has often put it: "When you drink Forty Hall wine, you're not just drinking the wine." Oz Clarke, who visited the vineyard for his book English Wine: From Still to Sparkling, described the site as feeling like "the depths of the Kent or Sussex countryside" despite being sandwiched between the North Circular Road and the M25. The vineyard's tagline says it all: "Cultivating a healthier, happier community."
The Social Mission: Ecotherapy at the Heart of the Vineyard
Forty Hall Vineyard exists to deliver health and wellbeing benefits to its local community. Profits from wine sales are ploughed straight back into an ecotherapy programme - sometimes called green care or green exercise - that uses volunteering outdoors in a green environment to boost mental and physical health.
Two ecotherapists are part of the small paid staff team, working alongside volunteers who come from across Enfield and London. Sessions are open to members of the community, including people with mild to moderate mental health issues or a managed long-term condition. Participants can work alone, in pairs, in small groups or in larger teams, whatever feels most comfortable.
Enfield has the twelfth highest rate of depression of any London borough, with more than 32,000 people living with mental illness and an annual NHS spend of around £98 million on treating depression and anxiety. Forty Hall Vineyard sits at the heart of the response. Volunteers describe how the project has helped them:
- "FHV has allowed me to make new friends and benefit from the support I receive. It's given me a sense of belonging."
- "I have found a new community of friends; great for the spirit."
- "Working out of doors and doing something practical greatly benefits my overall health, both physically and mentally."
- "It has been a significant factor in recovery from two bad episodes of depression."
- "I've got my self-confidence back."
Former Chief Medical Officer Professor Sally Davies has noted that "volunteering or joining a community group can make sure people stay physically and mentally active for longer. The health benefits of this cannot be overestimated." At Forty Hall Vineyard, participants report developing new skills, improving fitness through outdoor activity, reducing isolation, peer support and a renewed sense of local pride.
Volunteering at Forty Hall Vineyard
Volunteers are described as the vineyard's lifeblood - they do everything from winter pruning to harvest, from running the farmers' market stall to mentoring newcomers. Regular volunteer sessions currently take place:
- Monday 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 9.30am to 12.30pm
- First and third Sunday of the month from 10am
Many volunteers have been recognised by the London Borough of Enfield through the 100 Hours Scheme, and the vineyard itself has achieved the Investing in Volunteers UK Quality Standard. To register, complete the online form or email volunteering@fortyhallvineyard.com.
The Wines: Single Estate, Certified Organic, London Grown
Forty Hall Vineyard produces single estate wines made exclusively from grapes grown on the ten-acre site, and vinified by multi-award-winning English winemaker Will Davenport at Davenport Vineyards in East Sussex. Every wine is Soil Association certified organic, vegan-friendly, natural and unfiltered, with minimal intervention in both the vineyard and the winery.
Within an hour of being picked, grapes are pressed on the same day to retain their natural character. The winemaking emphasises low sulphur dioxide additions and, where possible, naturally occurring yeasts for fermentation - principles aligned with the natural wine movement.
The Grape Varieties
- Bacchus - A heavily scented green grape of German origin that thrives in England's cool climate. Produces an aromatic white wine often described as "England's answer to Sauvignon Blanc", with flavours of green herbs, nettles, elderflower and gooseberry.
- Ortega - An early-ripening German variety that produces full-flavoured white wines with grapefruit acidity balanced by high natural sugar levels. Excellent as an aperitif or paired with seafood and spicy food.
- Chardonnay - A versatile international variety that responds to the English climate with citrus and green apple character. An essential component of the sparkling blend and the 2022 Forty Hall White.
- Pinot Noir - A "finicky" thin-skinned variety that, in good vintages, produces light-coloured wines with soft cherry and berry fruit. Part of the classic sparkling trio.
- Pinot Meunier - Late-budding and early-ripening; contributes soft berry fruit to the sparkling blend. Quaintly known in England as "Dusty Miller" for the floury appearance of its leaves.
The Current Range
2023 London Sparkling Brut - £37.50
Believed to be London's first commercial sparkling wine, made in the traditional Champagne method from organically grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes harvested entirely from Forty Hall Vineyard. Delicate and fresh, with a light texture, soft acidity, hints of lemon, green apples and a touch of toastiness. 11.5% vol. Already awarded a Silver Medal at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA). Buy the 2023 London Sparkling Brut.
Bacchus 2023 Organic - from £19.00
A single-varietal, single-estate white from the signature Bacchus grape. Aromatic, fresh and floral, with the herbal, elderflower and gooseberry notes the variety is known for. Soil Association certified organic, low intervention, vegan, 11% vol. Buy the Bacchus 2023 Organic.
Ortega 2024 Organic - from £19.00
The latest release from FHV. A zesty, medium-bodied, crisp and fruity Ortega - perfect as an aperitif or with seafood and spicy dishes. Soil Association certified organic, vegan, 11% vol. Buy the Ortega 2024 Organic.
Rosé 2024 - from £22.00
The vineyard's first ever rosé wine, made from pinot noir grapes grown on the Forty Hall site. Characterful, punchy and serious - described by the winery as "a London pink, with depth - to be enjoyed all year round". Soil Association certified organic, vegan, natural and unfiltered. Buy the Rosé 2024.
Previous releases including the 2016, 2019 and 2020 ("Lockdown") London Brut, the 2014 - 2018 Bacchus and Ortega, and a limited 2022 Forty Hall White still blend (Bacchus/Chardonnay, £30 per bottle, illustrated by Matthew Frame and hand-numbered) have rolled through the on-site shop and farmers' market stalls. The 2022 Forty Hall White was produced in just 350 bottles to raise funds following three difficult harvests.
Meet the Winemaker: Will Davenport
Every drop of Forty Hall wine is made by Will Davenport of Davenport Vineyards, a pioneering organic winemaker based in East Sussex. Will has advised Forty Hall Vineyard since the early days and is widely recognised as one of the leading lights of low-intervention English wine.
Will sums up his philosophy: "The fruit then becomes a true expression of the grape variety and the soil that it grows in. Chemical fertilisers and pesticides are there to make life easy for the vineyard manager, but often result in wine that lacks character and balance." It is this ethos of minimal chemical input - both in the vineyard and the winery - that defines the Forty Hall range.
Organic, Biodiverse, Working with Nature
Forty Hall Vineyard is Soil Association certified organic. No synthetic fungicides, herbicides or fertilisers are used. Pests are controlled biologically, and mildew is managed with elemental (not man-made) sulphur applied sparingly.
The vineyard works holistically with Forty Hall Farm. Sheep from the farm graze the vineyard over the winter months, naturally fertilising the soil and keeping the sward down. Cover crops between the rows improve soil health and biodiversity, and the volunteer community has built bug hotels, erected bird boxes and sown wildflower meadows around the fields.
This approach has won high-profile endorsement. Jancis Robinson described the 2018 Bacchus as "outstanding... worthy of a place among the best sparkling wines of the UK", while Matthew Jukes wrote in Vineyard Magazine: "Forty Hall Vineyard... is not only a superbly-managed organic vineyard which makes delicious wines under the calm guidance of organic guru Will Davenport but it is also a fantastic community project, too." Wine critic Tamlyn Currie, writing for JancisRobinson.com, praised the 2018 Bacchus for being "not nearly as catty as most Bacchus wines", with "gorgeous greengage fruit with a herby, fragrant lift of blackcurrant leaf and salvia and sage".
How to Buy Forty Hall Wines
Online Shop
The full current range can be bought through the online shop, with delivery handled by a third-party warehouse (because the vineyard office is staffed only two days a week). In Bond options (£44.92 / £42.52 volunteer rate) are also offered for buyers storing wine in bond.
Direct from the Farm Shop
Wines can be bought direct from the Forty Hall Farm Shop, Forty Hall Farm, Enfield EN2 9HA, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Look out for late-night openings at Christmas.
Forty Hall Farmers' Market
The vineyard runs a stall at the Forty Hall Farmers' Market on the second Sunday of every month from April to December, 10am to 3pm, hosted by the Food Gatherer. Come and meet the volunteers and pick up limited releases.
Stockists Across London
Forty Hall wines are stocked at independent retailers and restaurants across London and online. Current partners include:
- Enfield: Forty Hall Farm Shop, Forty Hall Estate Gift Shop, Holtwhites Bakery (Enfield and Palmers Green)
- London: Fridge of Plenty (Crouch End), Yardarm (Leytonstone), Ellis Wines, Trivet (Bermondsey), Sam's Riverside (Hammersmith), Steam, Caxton Grill at St Ermin's Hotel (Westminster), Scully (St James'), Le Pot de Terre (Hornsey), Lardo (London Fields and Hackney), Shed (Clapham)
- Online: The Social Supermarket, Vinceremos, The English Vine, Victory London Distillery, Feel Good Grapes, Vintage Roots, Substrata Wines, Miss Macaroon, Diverse Drinks, Pantree, Different Kind, Grape Britannia
Wholesale enquiries should go to sales@fortyhallvineyard.com.
Tours, Tastings and Events
Throughout the year, visitors can meet the volunteers, taste the wines and enjoy the site at events held at Forty Hall Farm.
Public Tours and Wine Tastings
For individuals, the vineyard runs tours and wine tasting sessions on the second Sunday of every month from April until September, alongside the farmers' market. Booking ahead is recommended.
Corporate Team Building Days
FHV is only a 40-minute train ride from Liverpool Street, but feels like the countryside. The vineyard welcomes teams of up to 40 people for a day of outdoor team building that supports its social mission. There are two recommended formats:
- Option 1: 9.15am to 1.30pm - a working session in the vineyard
- Option 2: 9.15am to 3.00pm - a working session, lunch and wine tasting
Typical tasks include mulching, weeding, applying feed, shoot thinning and trellis wire moving. Cost: £30 per volunteer (plus VAT). Wine tastings are available at extra cost; one bottle per 15 people of each wine is recommended. To book a team day, email emma@fortyhallvineyard.com.
Save London's Vineyard Fundraising Events
The vineyard has run popular one-off events such as Picnic in the Vines, featuring live music from Double Bass Dan, local cheese, charcuterie and breads from Holtwhites Bakery, and wine by the glass or bottle in aid of the Save London's Vineyard campaign. Keep an eye on social channels for the next event.
Viticulture Courses at Capel Manor College
Forty Hall Vineyard is the site of learning for a growing range of part-time viticulture courses run in partnership with Capel Manor College. Subjects include:
- Vineyard Principles and Management - 35 hours across five monthly sessions; a foundation in vine growing covering seasonal tasks such as winter and spring pruning, trellis and canopy management.
- Winter Pruning - a one-day course (8 hours) from December to March.
- Spring Pruning - a one-day shoot-thinning course from late April to late June.
- Vineyard Pests and Diseases - a one-day course in May, June or July covering identification, prevention and organic treatments.
- Vineyard Establishment - two consecutive days covering site selection, grape varieties, trellising, equipment and long-term planning.
- Wine Business - two consecutive days covering UK sales channels, marketing, taxation and trends.
Enrolment is handled by Capel Manor College - see Capel Manor College for details.
Press, Awards and Accolades
Forty Hall Vineyard has built an enviable reputation in national and international press, and the wine list of awards is impressive.
Selected Press Coverage
- Oz Clarke - English Wine: From Still to Sparkling (released September 2020)
- JancisRobinson.com - Review of the 2018 Bacchus
- Observer Food Monthly - included in the OFM 50, February 2020
- Jellied Eel Magazine - feature, February 2020
- Decanter Magazine - review of the London Brut
- The Sunday Times - McCartney family Christmas feature, December 2019
- BBC Radio London - Jo Good show interview, 22 August 2019
- Londonist - Drinks Made in London; A Wine Lover's Guide to London (2019)
- BBC London News - Harvest feature, 24 September 2018
- London Live - Harvest feature, 24 September 2018
- Evening Standard - Harvest feature, 21 September 2018
- BBC World Service - 19 September 2018
- Time Out Magazine - 26 February 2018
- Jellied Eel Magazine - 50 Urban Food Heroes, 2018
- BBC Radio 4 On Your Farm - 23 April 2017
- Harpers, Decanter, Glass of Bubbly, Londonist, The Drinks Business - December 2015 launch coverage
Awards and Nominations
- 2018 - Silver Medal, Independent English Wine Awards (2015 London Sparkling Brut)
- 2017 - Winner, Soil Association BOOM Awards (Best Organic Wine for 2014 London Sparkling Brut)
- 2016 - Urban Food Awards Winner; Capital Growth's Growing Enterprise
- 2013 & 2014 - 100 Hours Awards achieved by more than 20 volunteers
- 2012 - 2014 - Winner, Exceptional Contribution to the Local Community, Enfield in Bloom
- 2013 - Highly Commended, City Bridge Trust Growing Localities Awards; RSA Trust Green Business of the Year; Investing in Volunteers UK Quality Standard achieved; Finalist, Mayor of London's Team London Award; National Finalist, Local Food Recognition Awards
- 2012 - Local Food Hero for volunteer Mark Mendes
- 2011 - 3 RSA Trust Start-Up Business of the Year
Visiting Forty Hall Vineyard
Location and Travel
Forty Hall Vineyard sits on Forty Hall Farm within the Forty Hall Estate, Forty Hill, Enfield EN2 9HA - about 40 minutes by train from Liverpool Street station. There is plenty of free parking on the estate. Plan your journey with the Transport for London Journey Planner, cycle routes via TfL cycling, or walking directions from Walkit. A printable map and directions are also available from Forty Hall Farm.
The Wider Estate
The vineyard is one part of the wider Forty Hall Estate, which includes a seventeenth-century manor house (Forty Hall itself), a 170-acre organic mixed farm with rare-breed animals, a community orchard, a forest garden and a market garden. The Forty Hall Estate and the adjacent Forty Hall Farm are wonderful places to spend an afternoon, particularly on farmers' market days.
Sustainability and the Future
Three consecutive difficult harvests - through the pandemic, adverse weather and devastating powdery mildew - brought Forty Hall Vineyard to a make-or-break moment in 2023. A community-led Save London's Vineyard crowdfunding appeal raised tens of thousands of pounds from individual donors, funding a dedicated Fendt tractor with attached sprayer and under-vine strimmer (built by Voxx Machinery in Kent). With the new equipment and a Herculean volunteer effort, the 2023 harvest yielded over 32 tonnes of grapes - a vineyard record - selling the surplus to other London wineries including Blackbook Winery and Numbers.
Long-term sustainability is within reach, but production costs for the 2023 vintage wines and ongoing vineyard management remain a challenge. The vineyard continues to welcome support through wine purchases, the team days, donations via Local Giving, and corporate sponsorship. As the team puts it: "People power and resilience are at the heart of Forty Hall Vineyard."
Contact
- Address: Gardener's Rest, Forty Hall Farm, Forty Hill, Enfield EN2 9HA
- General enquiries: enquiries@fortyhallvineyard.com
- Information & press: info@fortyhallvineyard.com
- Wholesale: sales@fortyhallvineyard.com
- Volunteering: volunteering@fortyhallvineyard.com
- Corporate support & fundraising: emma@fortyhallvineyard.com
Follow @fhvlondon on Twitter, Forty Hall Vineyard on Facebook, @fhvlondon on Instagram and Forty Hall Vineyard on LinkedIn for the latest news, releases and events.
Drinkaware: please visit drinkaware.co.uk for advice on drinking and limiting alcohol intake.