About Us
Ross and Samantha’s love of wine and the beautiful Crouch Valley Region inspired them in 2010 to plant Crouch Ridge Vineyard overlooking the River Crouch in the scenic village of Althorne, near Chelmsford in Essex.“Our passion is to produce fine wine from grapes grown in our vineyard. Good wines bring people together, we are excited about our wine; to us it is about sharing it with friends, old and new.”
Both Ross and Sam are 5th generation farmers in Essex. The Family farm at Althorne has evolved over the years from a dairy herd producing milk sold locally, to an arable farm growing cereals, to today a Vineyard where wine made from our grapes is sold from the Cellar Door at the Wine Barn; Back in the day there was an Oyster Shack on the farm selling Oysters from the beds at Althorne Creek. Now we pair our Sparkling Crouch Ridge wines with local Oysters in our Restaurant and on our Outdoor Terrace.”
The Vineyard
Crouch Ridge vineyard is planted on gentle south facing slopes overlooking the River Crouch. The soil is predominately clay with mineral deposits; the long hours of sunshine and relatively low rainfall in the area make it an ideal location for growing vines.The Wine Barn
We opened our Wine Barn in June 2019, here we showcase our fine wines, sample our wine before buying from our Shop or enjoy a wine tasting experience.We say “come for the wine, stay for the view” as the raised terrace outside the Wine Barn allows visitors to enjoy the views of the Vineyard and Crouch Valley countryside overlooking the River. It is a lovely place to sit and relax with friends and family with a glass of local Crouch Ridge wine or cup of coffee; the on-site café serves food & drinks. Daily specials are prepared by our chef to complement our wines.
