London vineyard is victim of weather

Forty Hall Community Vineyard in Enfield, north London, may have to close after three years of bad harvests.

Founded in 2009, the social enterprise relies on a team of more than 100 volunteers and uses its income to maintain the vines, while also delivering health and wellbeing activities.

The vineyard has issued an online appeal to raise funds to purchase a tractor and a new spraying system.

The 10-acre site claims to be London’s only commercial scale vineyard “since the Middle Ages” and is part of the wider Forty Hall farm, an organic farm run by Capel Manor College, London’s specialist agricultural college.

Over the last three years, grape yields at the site have been ravaged by bad weather and powdery mildew. BBC, May 10

Majestic revamps subscription plan

Majestic has relaunched its Lock It In subscription service.

More than 100 of Majestic’s most popular white, rosé, red, Champagne and sparkling wines will be available for shoppers to order through this scheme, which customers can manage through the new online portal.

Chief operating officer Rob Cooke said: “We know that everyone is feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis right now, but we also know that our customers still want to treat themselves to their favourite wines. Many of our customers buy their wines by the case, and our Lock It In proposition offers the cheapest and most convenient way for them to do that.”

Retail Gazette, May 30