Talks and tastings

Are you part of a group, club or society? Have you ever considered inviting a guest speaker along to one of your gatherings to add another layer to the occasion? Speakers from Warden Abbey vineyard have been hosted by many interest groups over the years and attended all sorts of events to tell the story of the vineyard, and what a story it is !

Our Story

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Nestled between the picturesque villages of Old Warden and Cardington, hear the fascinating story of how a vineyard came to be planted on this beautiful Bedfordshire site in medieval times. Learn how it came to be replanted in 1986 by pioneers of the English wine revival, and about its current incarnation as a community project and social enterprise producing award winning wines.

Practicalities

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We will bring along our own equipment while you provide the venue and a suitable wall or screen for us to project onto. We are a vineyard so it would be a shame not to let the audience sample some of our wines! We can finish the presentation with a wine tasting if required.

Arrangements

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We're a small vineyard and our wines change regularly. You can find details of what is currently on offer here.

To arrange a talk just drop us an email and we can discuss your requirements further.

Many thanks for a wonderful evening last night. We had so many positive comments

- Ashwell Horticultural Society

Our historian, Margaret Roberts, gives a number of talks on the following topics - please contact us to arrange a history talk.

The Story of Warden Abbey (1135-1537)

An introduction to the Cistercian monastery, its history and place in the Bedfordshire countryside.

Warden Abbey

The making of a reconstruction painting. Discover the purposes of a reconstruction painting and learn how professional artists brought the lost medieval abbey back to life.

The Monastic Heritage of Old Warden Parish Church

Henry VIII insisted on demolishing Warden Abbey, but the parish church escaped virtually unscathed. With clues ranging from a 14th-century font to medieval stained glass windows, the building quietly revels in its monastic past.

The Original Warden Pear

Learn how this ancient cooking pear was grown and used, its significance in art and literature, and why the monks of Warden Abbey adopted three golden pears as their ‘logo’ in the 15th century.

The Medieval Grapevine

From verjuice, wine and vinegar to medicinal remedies and pest control, find out how every part of the medieval grapevine and its by-products were used.

Great evening with John and Trevor from Warden vineyard giving a talk about wine making on the site and a taste of three of their amazing wines. Would recommend Bedfordshire WI’s to organise them as speakers, and we’re looking forward to their events next year

Wixamsvixams WI