Picturesque Winery in somerset

Hello – we are Panu and Sophie, and we live on a picturesque farm near Taunton in Somerset. We moved here in late 2022, with the dream of creating a sustainable wildlife haven…

Hello – we are Panu and Sophie, and we live on a picturesque farm near Taunton in Somerset. We moved here in late 2022, with the dream of creating a sustainable wildlife haven, and a new winery, cider press and visitor destination for our beautiful corner of Somerset. The farm dates back 250 years, and has 40 acres of land, including two prolific cider orchards, pastures and a 2-acre swimming lake. In 2023 and 2024, we planted two new vineyards, converted one of the barns into a winery, and started to make wine and cider. We are also the custodians of new woodlands, with over 1000 new trees planted in 2022 to connect new to ancient woodland, and create wildlife corridors for animals. We plan to plant an additional 700 trees in 2026, restore our old orchards, convert 4 acres into a rewilded wildflower meadow, and introduce beehives in several places across the farm. We have 10 chickens, a bevvy of 30 doves, a family of swans, a Labrador and a small cat, and a large and prolific organic vegetable garden, all planted and tended to support maximum biodiversity. An extensive and rich compost system supports the farm, and we also have a kitchen orchard – almost every type of fruit grown in the UK is to be found somewhere on the farm! We are a small business, and you would be the sole volunteers staying here, helping alongside Panu and our highly experienced, part-time farm hand and gardener.

Across the year, activities include gardening, mowing, supporting the vegetable garden, fencing, tree and wildflower planting, woodland management, bee support, and other cons…

Across the year, activities include gardening, mowing, supporting the vegetable garden, fencing, tree and wildflower planting, woodland management, bee support, and other conservation activities. From January to April, the focus is on preparing the orchards, vines, veg garden and land for the growing season ahead. This includes tree maintenance; vineyard and orchard pruning; seed and vegetable sowing; farm maintenance and looking after the animals. May to September is peak growing season. The orchards and vineyards need weekly support, maintenance and upkeep; the vegetable garden is prolific; and weeding and farm maintenance is ongoing. From September to December, the main focus is harvesting and pressing apples and grapes. The first apple press takes place in September, then the focus in October moves to grapes and wine making (as well as apple harvesting), and in November, we make cider.