10 Questions With: Dunleavy Vineyard
Resting beneath a blanket of sulky grey clouds, Dunleavy Vineyard stretches out before me. Tucked among winding country lanes and Somerset’s rolling green hills, a vineyard is perhaps the last thing you expect to find here…which, if you ask me, only makes the discovery all the sweeter.
But there is nothing accidental about Dunleavy’s presence. The orderly rows of vines and flourishing business are the result of years of vision, perseverance, and hard work. Behind it all stands Ingrid Bates, the vineyard’s owner and manager, whose determination has helped this corner of Somerset take root and thrive.
And it is, in fact, Ingrid who introduced us to the vineyard herself, very kindly inviting the magazine down for a tour.
It’s at this point that I would normally feel like I need to confess more of a passion for wine than any real knowledge, but Ingrid immediately makes that feel unnecessary. Her approach is down-to-earth and approachable from the get-go.
Indeed, I think what makes Dunleavy so special is the angle from which she approaches her work. Ingrid, unashamedly tells us - and rightfully so - that she did not get into this work through a love of wine; (in fact she tells us her preference was alchopops when she first bought this patch of land) but instead via her love for nature.
After studying biology at university, Ingrid went on to work as a gardener. It was while tending the grounds of a local estate that she first found herself asking if she could look after a small unwieldy vineyard that needed some TLC. One opportunity led to another and, finally, aged 28 she bought her first ever vineyard. (It’s facts like these that really make you question your own life’s successes as a 29-year-old writer.)
What is perhaps most remarkable is just how much of Dunleavy rests on Ingrid's shoulders. With only the occasional help from Steve, a retired chemistry teacher, she manages almost every aspect of the business herself. From nurturing the vines and monitoring the harvest to overseeing the vineyard's marketing and distinctive label designs; her fingerprints can be found on every bottle that leaves the estate.
The vineyard and its owner have grown together in more ways than one. In fact, Ingrid recalls that the first vines were planted just a day before she gave birth to her first child. Fast forward to present day and it’s not just the age of her children that has changed; Dunleavy now produces around 10,000 bottles a year, a remarkable achievement for what remains such a hands-on operation.
Yet despite what would be overwhelming for many, Ingrid remains refreshingly grounded - and aspiringly zen. This year, frosts have threatened the vineyard's crop, but she shrugs off the worry with a philosophy that seems to guide much of her life: "I can't stress about it because I can't control it." It is an attitude that feels perfectly suited to someone who works so closely with nature-practical, patient, and accepting of what the seasons may bring.
Warm, down-to-earth, unafraid to question, and endlessly passionate about the land she stewards, Ingrid is impossible not to like. So, with a glass poured and the vines stretching out around us, we sat down to talk about winemaking, nature, and the journey that brought Dunleavy Vineyard to where it is today. It is an honour to introduce the next star of our 10 Questions with… Ingrid from Dunleavy Wines!
1. Tell us about Dunleavy Vineyards?
So Dunleavy is the name of my brand! I'm a wine producer, I live in central Bristol, and I grow grapes outside Bristol in two locations.
2. You planted your own vineyard aged 28, so what drew you to this life?
It was just wanting to work outdoors really; it wasn’t necessarily about a love of wine (although that did come) but a love of horticulture and marketing, wanting to create a product.
3. If you could go back and give 28-year-old Ingrid one piece of advice before planting the vineyard, what would it be?
Don't plant Pinot Noir.
4. What’s something about growing grapes in Somerset that would surprise most people?
Most people seem surprised by that fact alone! A lot more people know about English wine now, but there’s still so many people who still haven’t encountered it, or know how great it can be.
5. If Dunleavy Vineyards had a personality, how would you describe it in three words?
Very relaxed, fun… and really good!
6. If you could share a bottle of Dunleavy wine with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
David Attenborough and why? Because he's cool.
7. What's the achievement you're most proud of?
I'm most proud of just creating a brand that people like and people recognise - and respect; people will look at the label and go “oh I know that place” and that’s really such a lovely feeling.
8. You crowdfunded to raise funds to buy a field on the outskirts of Bristol, what does it mean to you that so many people chose to invest in your future?
It was amazing, it was quite scary at the time. It’s a strange psychological concept to ask people for money but It was an incredible feeling to see the community help me in that way.
9. Where do you see Dunleavy in five years' time?
I would like to do far more tours and I have a new site now, near Kelston, so I want to do a lot more in regards to that. I'd love to also attach the brand to some even bigger brands.
10. For someone trying Dunleavy for the first time, which bottle would you pour them and why?
The sparkling red, everyone always loves the sparkling red because it's just fun, it's different, and a lot of people have never tried a sparkling red before! It’s nice to do something a bit unexpected.
Interviewed by the founder of the Everyday Magazine, Jessica Blackwell
You can find out more about Dunleavy Vineyard here.
