Mary Reid

Denbies Vineyard near Dorking is one of those surprises that this country sometimes throws at you.  Can England really produce high quality wine? The site was identified because it is geologically identical to the Champagne region, with the same protective configuration of hills and slopes. I suppose the question would always remain around the climate, but recent changes have acted in its favour. In any case, there is plenty of historical evidence for thriving vineyards in the area from Roman times onwards.

And the investment has certainly paid off. The vineyard produces 400,000 bottles a year, using a number of grape varieties. It's GreenFields sparkling wine astonished the wine world by being awarded the Gold Award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition last year. And I got a chance to sample it, as well as a delicious Greenfields sorbet, last night.

Kingston Rotary had invited Ian and me to their Presidential dinner at Denbies. This is always held at the end of the President's year, and the Mayor who has worked with them (although by now only billed as a Past Mayor) is traditionally invited as a guest. I was only too pleased to propose the toast to the Rotary Club of Kingston upon Thames.

I've said before that we are very privileged to have three active Rotary clubs in the borough, and they do an enormous amount of good, all out of proportion to the size of their membership. Not only do they raise funds for local and international charities, but the members roll their sleeves up to make a number of community events happen from Kids Out to fairs and fun days.