Inspirational Islanders: Russ & Philippa, Adgestone Vineyard

Situated on a 10-acre south facing site sloping up towards Brading Down, Adgestone Vineyard is the oldest continuously operating commercial vineyard in England. Owners Russ and Philippa produce a diverse selection of English and country wines and liqueurs,
as well as Something Blue, the UK’s only blue sparkling wine.

“The weather (the microclimate) and the proximity to the sea no matter where you are on the Island makes it a great place to live and work. The vast majority of the people living here are friendly and welcoming and there is a beautiful sense of community and support running through the heart of the Island. A truly beautiful place in all respects.

When we’re not at the Vineyard, you can usually find us at Steephill Cove… well, what’s not to love? It is such a beautiful place and really peaceful. We can visit there and feel like we are on holiday, even though it’s only a few miles down the road from home. The cove is an unspoilt hidden gem!

Our favourite beach has got to be Yaverland, which is also our nearest one. After a hot and sunny working day it has so often been our saviour from the heat by providing a cooling swim and a complete reset.

The Island Highland Gathering is one of our favourite events because we both really enjoy live music and steampunk. The Gathering is the perfect combination of both. We also support Ryde Aspire as our business’ chosen charity and so we sponsor the event.

We might be a little biased, but if you only have an hour on the Island, we recommend taking a tour at Adgestone Vineyard (of course!). The ‘Grape to Glass experience means you’ll not only see the vines, but also our subterranean cellars too, learning about viticulture, the growing season and some winemaking history on the way.”

🛈 Paul starred in Channel 5’s Isle of Wight: Jewel of the South series.