“It’s a massive shed that I make wine in.” Ben Walgate is describing The Winery, his latest venture on Rock Channel in Rye. “We can do everything here from processing grapes to bottling, labelling and dispatching the wines. It’s all very glamorous, but it’s actually very difficult to make a living so adding in some hospitality on site makes a lot of sense.”
On Wednesday 10 June, it was a chance for locals to enjoy The Winery’s hospitality and some of its rose sparkling wine, with the venue’s first networking evening. “It’s nice to have the community in here to say thank you to some of the people who’ve supported us and to say ‘Hello! We’re here’ to everyone else. It’s essential for local businesses to support each other and be more collaborative.”
For Ben, starting The Winery feels very different from his previous venture at Tillingham. “I created it in 2016. It was my brainchild and a long-held ambition to create a farm with hospitality, vineyards and that whole field-to-fork thing. Starting again two years ago has taken up quite a lot of mental energy. It was just me doing it on my own, 100% me, spinning a lot of plates. Now we have some lovely staff and a new winemaker so I’ve been able to put my head above the parapet and see what’s going on around me.”
Since opening, The Winery has changed, he said, “It started off with a bit of a speakeasy sort of vibe. People walk through the door and are very surprised by what they find inside. The clientele is a real mix – we get visitors down from London and the people who have second homes, but also locals too.”
More networking events are planned, along with a supper club and music performances, plus collaboration with local chefs and the team at Aubrey Halls next door.
Ben’s main focus though is the wine which now sells around the world under the Walgate brand and is served on the tables of two and three Michelin-starred restaurants. ”I’d love people to come and try our wines, give them the time they deserve, and really get to understand them. I want to build on what we’ve started and make it a great place just to hang out.”
Image Credits: The Winery .