It
all started as a hobby for Emile van Schayk after he was given
a recipe by Sarah Leneghan, a retired shepherdess in Stranraer,
in 1997. He had so many ideas for different recipes, using many
different ingredients, the number of demi-johns bubbling away
in the house increased rapidly.
Two years later the van Schayk family moved to Orkney. Emile entered the local
Homebrew and Wine competition, and won two years in a row. It was this and
popular demand that encouraged Emile to turn his hobby into a business.
All
our wines and liqueurs are made in the traditional way using
fruit, flowers and vegetables, which are fermented whole resulting
in high levels of anti-oxidants and maximum flavour. Only the
finest natural ingredients are used, with as much as possible
grown in Orkney.
We do not add sulphites, we let the fermentation process stop naturally. Because
the alcohol levels are higher than in most wines, we do not need to use any
preservatives. This means you can enjoy a few glasses of Orkney Wine without
getting a headache! To clear the wines we use bentonite, a natural clay, not
gelatine or any other animal product which many other wineries use. All our
wines are suitable for vegetarians.
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