Family raise a glass to vineyard venture

Three generations of the same family have opened a boutique vineyard in the heart of West Yorkshire.

Based in the village of Meltham near Huddersfield, Helme Edge Vineyard has been established by Alan Calder, his daughter Fiona Smith and her son Tom Smith.

Set in more than 3.2 acres of land, the vineyard is being officially opened this weekend and will offer tours and wine tasting events in a purpose-built tasting building.

The day-to-day running of the business will be undertaken by Alan and Tom, with Fiona and her husband Duncan, helping part-time.

Alan said: “I have been a winemaker for many decades and both Fiona and Duncan were also in the wine business, so with the land we have and its south facing position, it seemed natural to create vineyard.

“We started experimenting in 2017 by planting 70 vines and in 2020 we made a little vintage which was very nice. We expanded in several stages from there and have now decided to turn our hobby into a business.

“We have several thousand vines which will produce still and sparkling white wines and rosé.

Tom, who recently returned from Australia where he worked at a large winery north of Melbourne, said: “I enjoyed planting the original vines with my grandad and I love working outdoors so when our hobby became an actual business, I leapt at the chance of being involved.

“Our initial business strategy is to focus on tourism tastings, but we plan to increase our yields so we harvest more grapes, and the longer-term goal is to eventually make the actual wine here too.

“With our outlook on the Pennines, we couldn’t have a better location to do this and with wine being in the DNA of the family, we’re very excited to share the vineyard and our passion for wine with others.”