A winemaker is moving red wine production in the UK up a notch after building a new winery.

Sam Linter, 37, took over the running of Bookers Vineyard in Bolney, near Haywards Heath, from her parents five years ago. She was determined to make the vineyard more commercially viable and has overseen its expansion from six to 23 acres.

The vineyard has now built a new winery, with four top-ofthe-range German plunging vats to improve the fermentation process.

Mrs Linter aims to increase production of red wine at the vineyard from the current level of 20,000 bottles a year to 80,000 bottles a year by 2008.

She said: "We now have the most advanced red wine-making facility in the UK. English red wine has progressed really well over the past four years and we now hope to move it up to the next gear."

A third of the cost of the vats, the largest of which was £19,500, was funded with a Government grant promoting rural diversification.

One of the key elements in making good red wine is to ferment the liquid with the grapes inside the vat but a by-product of fermentation is carbon dioxide, which pushes the grapes to the top.

The plunging tanks are designed specifically to overcome this problem. Two paddles in the tanks push the grapes down into the wine and pump the wine from the bottom of the tank to the top as the concoction ferments over three weeks.

Bookers Vineyard was planted by Mrs Linter's parents in 1972.

Its Dark Harvest blend is already an award winner and one of the UK wine industry's top sellers.

The vineyard also produces single variety wines, including merlot and pinot noir. Mrs Linter, one of three women winemakers in the UK, said she cannot wait until the vats are up-and-running in two weeks.

She said: "The red wine industry in the UK is tiny.

"It is growing but I'd love to see a much larger production of English red. A lot of people like the big heavy reds but others prefer the lighter, fruitier reds, and England is perfectly placed to make that style because we have a cooler climate.

"The hotter the climate, the thicker the grape skins, which means more tannins and a higher alcohol content.

"But lots of people prefer less tannin and a slightly lower alcohol content as this type of wine is easier to drink."

Bookers Vineyard is participating in this year's Horsham District Food and Drink Festival, which runs until October 9.

Throughout the festival, the vineyard will offer tours of the new winery, tastings and discounts on its red, white and sparkling wines.

For more information, visit www.bookersvineyard.co.uk or call 01444 881575.

Tuesday 20 September 2005