FOOD & DR INK
study in East Anglia. “We’ve got planning permission to build a much more appropriate centre here,” Paul explains. “I really do want to tie up with local education centres, to have an area where we can bring people in and train them up as an alternative to pure agriculture. I want our people to be qualified in what they’re doing. If there’s significant interest in developing this area as a wine region, you’ve got to have places to train.” Having spent his life flying all round the world, Paul’s now happy to “not get out much” and spend his days focused on the vines and people at the heart of this project. “I think this is where that concept of terroir comes in: it’s not unique to France,” he says. “When you plant your fields, and you find your people, and put your effort into a patch of land – you’re going to try and make it work as best you can. And somehow, all patches of land
“Without the locals, you just couldn’t do it”
And of course, the community will also be helping to spread the word about this family-run business that’s definitely going places. “I thought everyone knew about my vineyard – I just imagined that they’d spot it – but so many people haven’t heard of it,” Paul says. “It has been a bit of a secret. But hopefully it won’t be for long,” he laughs. Saffron Grange wines are available to purchase via Thorne Wines or direct from the vineyard at saffrongrange.com
which, on paper, tick off about 80% of what’s required – when you do invest your time, and you find ways of getting around what goes wrong – which is what we’ve done here – then it succeeds. I do have the luxury that I had a really good career, and could afford to start this – but of course, affording to start it doesn’t mean that I can develop it. So now it’s really up to the community to accept Saffron Grange as a proposition that they’re happy to grow with, and to support.”
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