Wine sold from RHS grape harvest

Fruit was harvested and sent to Plumpton College

Wine made from a grapes from a Surrey vineyard has gone on sale at the Royal Horticultural Society's base in Wisley.

It follows the planting of about 750 vines in the gardens in May 2004.

This month, staff at the charity made their third harvest and announced that their latest wine - a white called The Glasshouse - had gone on sale.

The first harvest was used to make a small amount of wine for celebrations to mark the opening of Wisley's new glasshouse last year, the RHS said.

'Grass and peaches'

The superior second vintage was used to make the wine which is now ready for drinking and has gone on sale.

Fruit from the third harvest was sent to Plumpton College, near Lewes in East Sussex, which specialises in land-based studies and where students have helped to make the wine.

The RHS said it had used two cultivars which were not known for being used in commercial winemaking.

But it said that "Phoenix" and "Orion" were selected because they did well in the UK climate, showed good mildew resistance and were practical to manage.

The Glasshouse has been described by critics as a clean, dry, aromatic wine that has a delicate nose of grass, herbs, peaches and pear drops.

RHS products sold at Wisley go to support the work of the charity.