Private School News

Local vineyard looks to repeat their success at RGS THE GRANGE’S Summer Fair

Worcestershire’s Rose Bank Vineyard has a local school’s Summer Fair to thank for signing up a pub as a customer for its award-winning wine.

In 2009, vineyard owner Richard Tomkinson exhibited at the Summer Fair held at RGS The Grange, a junior school only a few miles away in Claines. Whilst attending the Fair, Jim Godwin who owns the White Hart in Fernhill Heath, sampled the wine and began to sell it at his pub.

Richard Tomkinson started the Rose Bank Vineyard with his wife Rita in 2003. “Last year gave us an ideal opportunity to introduce our wine and demonstrate that good wine can be grown in Fernhill Heath.
“The fair at The Grange was excellent with the variety of stalls attracting a lot of interest,” said Mr Tomkinson. “We were able to provide wine tasting and this directly resulted in our meeting Jim Godwin from The White Hart Pub in Fernhill Heath. He subsequently now stocks our wine, which thanks to the Grange’s summer fair, has brought two local businesses together.”

“I couldn’t be more delighted at the outcome,” said Gareth Hughes, Headmaster of The Grange. “We love to invite local businesses to come and support the event, so we were pleased that Rose Bank Vineyard had a stand. To actually see an outcome like this is tremendous.”

Rose Bank Vineyard is obviously hopeful of repeating this success as the company is exhibiting at this year’s Fair, which takes place on Saturday 3 July. There are many other local companies attending, with products ranging from hand-made soap to custom jewellery, as well as lots of children’s entertainment on offer.

Photo: From left to right as viewed: Richard Tomkinson (Rose Bank Vineyard), Gareth Hughes (The Grange) and Jim Godwin (The White Hart).