ALLER HILL

Guy Smith Aller Hill Vineyard nr Langport Somerset TA10 0QL Facilities: Two bedroom stone cottage Full vineyard details: Blog spot Vines Bacchus Chardonnay Pinot Meunier Pinot Noir	Vineyard view -photo by Guy Smith
In the Nineteen eighties, South Somerset was a major centre of viticulture. However retirements led to a decline and until recently, only Oatley and Avalon remained. Now, thanks to new enthusiastic viticulturals, there are signs of revival. Wraxall vineyard has reopened, and, in 2008, a new planting of classical vines took place at Aller Hill, just to the north of Langport. Area of Special Scientific Interest Just to the north of the vineyard is an SSI area. Three species of plant which are nationally rare and a further three which are of restricted distribution in Somerset grow in the area. These are Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina),Yellow Oat-grass (Trisetum flavescens) and Quaking-grass (Briza media). There are also examples of the rare Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor), Rough Marsh-mallow (Althaea hirsuta) and Nit-grass (Gastridium ventricosum)
	Vineyard Now there are also 2700 vines on the calcareous clay and loam, situated 35m above sea level on a south/south west facing slope.Whilst not organic, spraying is kept to an absolute minimum. The main aim is to produce a sparkling wine, although a new plantimng of Bacchus will provide a still wine. A small crop was taken in 2009.