Behind the vine

Lynsey Verrillo - Blackbook Winery - London, England

When do you think you fell in love with wine, enough to make a career of it?

I previously felt intimidated being in a wine crowd. When Sergio (my husband, and winemaker at Blackbook Winery) was studying at Plumpton, we’d meet up with his friends who know a lot about the production side which was technical and I’d feel out of my depth. For a long time, I felt like a bystander. Even in New Zealand where we spent time during harvest at Ata Rangi, I worried I'd get in the way.

Our time in NZ was my first experience living in wine community and seeing what that life could be like. And the more time I spent in it, the more I realise what an open community it is. So when we returned to London, and having seen urban wineries working well in the US/Australia, we decided it was worth a go. So we set up Blackbook Winery during my 2nd maternity leave - it was truly a family endeavour!

What I love is that it's a small, international community. In London, you're in your bubble, but actually even though they're thousands of miles away, there’s a network that makes you feel you're part of a community. The past 6 months have shown me that I want to be full-time in the industry. I have a good place in it, with valuable contributions from a business and production side. I’m getting more comfortable asking about what we can do, as well as pushing growth through access. It will take both of us to dedicate all our energy to extend the reach of Blackbook.

What story does your wine tell?

We are a still wine focused English producer, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with minimal intervention. Our goal is to really express the best that Pinot Noir and Chardonnay can be in England. We take a different view on the potential of them, especially as stills - as most of England is using these grapes for sparkling. We want to show the potential of those grapes in this area.

For the winery itself, we're trying to be a London brand that is supportive, sustainable and works with other small businesses. We believe in creating a positive impact on the community and improving access to the process of winemaking in London. We want to work with local schools to get the idea of the career in people's minds and develop a system to create a positive impression of the industry on a small scale within Blackbook and then connect people to bigger producers to explore the industry as great candidates.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

The intimidation of the industry, which can feel exclusive. I do think wine is complicated and hard to get access to. I want to support the increased diversity in wine. We ask ourselves: How can we play a proactive part in giving access to this career with people who don't grow up with great wine on the table? It’s a very white, middle-class industry and there's a gap to people even knowing this is an option for a career. I want to change the view that wine is hard to access, and it's our responsibility within the industry to tackle that and make it more accessible to more people.

What great things about wine do you think people should remember?

It's such a craft. It’s really clear when you start to understand the nuances a winemaker can put into the wine. Without studying or reading or writing about it, it's hard to understand the different styles of wine and methods to create them, but there's so much craft in it to appreciate. Especially for small producers, it’s about helping people understand the value of time and energy that goes into a wine. It’s so intense. All those crafts that make wine different, unique and special.

What is a piece of advice you would give to a woman interested in breaking into the wine world?

Connect with other women in the industry. There’s a lot of chat around women getting a hard time in wine, and it's a real effort to support one another. Women would be really willing to give their time and support and make introductions. Find someone who's in a part of the industry you're interested in and reach out and connect.

Who is a woman that inspired you?

Helen Masters at Ata Rangi. I've seen her first hand running the show. She's so well-respected and regarded, and a great example of wanting to help others and people that she knows. She makes incredible wines for a producer with a great ethos that they all live. They're really warm, welcoming and open people who want to support others who want to learn.

Where can women find your wine?

On our website, at Wanderlust wines, and at smaller shops in the London area.

We export a small amount to Norway and Finland as well.