Corking good idea in the Holme Valley

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), June 17, 2009

BEST of luck to Becky and Ian Sheveling who have set up a vineyard at Holmbridge.

The Holme Valley is of course an area synonymous with wine, of the summer variety.

Becky told the Examiner last week that the soil where they have planted 7,000 vines is perfect for wine-growing. The first harvest is due next September and I'm sure it will be a fine vintage.

Though obviously, as a deeply ethical columnist, I won't expect any sort of free sample as reward for this unsolicited mention of their efforts.

However, the world of wine-growing generally is not looking so rosy - or should that be ros? New figures out this week show that Brits are buying less wine - the first drop in consumption for 15 years.

Sales are down 2%, or 17 million bottles.

It's depressing that the recession is hitting home like this.

But at least we can reflect that Britain has come a long way. Only 20 years ago, wine drinking was a minority pursuit.

People with a taste for the grape tended to be well-off and well-educated.

Since then average wine consumption has doubled, from half a bottle a week each to just over a bottle.

Wine is the drink of the masses, supermarket shelves heave with bottles of the stuff and every Tom, Dick and Harry knows their merlot from their chardonnay.

Let's hope, once this recession is over, our love affair with the fruits of the vineyard can begin again..

CAPTION(S):

* LOTS OF BOTTLE: vineyard planters Becky and Ian Sheveling