What is said to be Scotland’s first wine from outdoor-grown grapes for 2,000 years is just six months away from becoming a reality.
Fife vineyard owner Christopher Trotter has completed the nation’s first outdoor grape harvest since Roman times at Upper Largo.
The chef and food writer decided to plant his own vines three years ago after a discussion about global warming with a friend.
After a warm summer and mild autumn, Mr Trotter is now waiting for his grapes to ferment and believes that ‘Chateau Largo’ could be in bottles by the spring.
Although excited about the prospect of creating his own wine, he is realistic about what the final product will be like.
“It will be a fresh, young wine that will not improve much in the bottle. It will probably need to be drunk in the first year. It won’t have much body.
“The sugar levels will not be high because it is warmth that creates sugars, which creates the alcohol and the richness.
“It will be unique, but I just don’t know what to expect.”
Attempts to grow a suitable crop have been aided by the unusually warm weather experienced in Fife this year.
It is in stark contrast to the troublesome year experienced by traditional vineyards in Europe, which have been blighted by bad weather, which has destroyed large quantities of fruit.
Mr Trotter is expecting his first wine to be ready in May or June, with an alcohol content of 10 or 11%.
He added: “This is the first time since the Romans that a wine has been made in Scotland from grapes grown outside.
“That in itself is quite exciting. We thought the solaris, a white grape, would be the most prolific because it was the healthiest-looking vine. Then the rondo suddenly appeared and was doing well. It has produced the most grapes.”