Future Leap’s co-workers and network members Nania’s Vineyard are pleased to announce they have launched their first ever Crowdfunder! They are expanding their local and sustainable canned wine range to produce England’s first ever orange wine, alongside a Pinot Noir and Elderflower Spritz.

The funds are being raised to find the best fruit available from grape growers all over England. Thanks to the generosity of local supporters, they have just reached their target of £9,000. If you want to join in and back these small grape growers to help build the English wine movement, you can find out more and donate here.

Nania’s Vineyard is a Bristol-born urban winery which was started out of an allotment in central Bristol in 2017 by documentary cameraman James Baylis-Smith and partner Shelley Nania. They inherited an allotment in Montpelier from a neighbour who had farmed the site for the previous 30 years. The idea grew to produce canned wine came after James met the brains behind Quello, Roberta Sergio who produces Italian-grown wine in a can, while swimming in the sea in Italy. That planted the seed and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Nania’s team now work in collaboration with Off the Line Vineyard in Sussex, Glastonbury Spring water and the Bristol Syrup Company to bring you English Rosé spritzers made from the Rondo grape. It’s a light and refreshing spritzer – summer in a can. To complement the English Rosé, they have added a touch of raspberry shrub from their friends at the Bristol Syrup Company. Then, to make it extra refreshing, a touch of ‘sparkle’ is added and blended with crystal clear Glastonbury spring water drawn from the legendary spring beneath Glastonbury Tor – magical water, steeped in myths and heroes! You can buy the Rosé spritzer in packs of 6 and 12 here. 

The Artwork

Nania’s Vineyard have partnered with local illustrator, street artist & muralist Alex Lucas, also known as Lucas Antics. She created the unique artwork on Nania’s Vineyard’s cans, turning them into collectors’ items with the stroke of her brush. You may recognise some of her other work and murals in Montpelier, where you can also visit her studio and shop. 

Co-working

When they are not tending to their vines, Nania’s Vineyard can be found working hard as valued co-workers at the Future Leap hub. “As a start up with basically zero money, we’ve been lucky enough to access some funding through a couple of different schemes related to the pandemic,” said James. 

“This has enabled us to form a small team and with the kickstart setup funding we’ve been able to rent space at the Future Leap co-working hub. The space is amazing, as are the staff, and it has made our little company feel like we have a home.” 

Sustainability 

As the Future Leap team reach the half-way point through Plastic Free July, we are still looking for some practical ways to reduce our waste. Did you know that recycling an aluminium can uses 90% less energy than recycling a glass bottle? Nania’s Vineyard uses cans which are infinitely recyclable. 75% of all aluminium ever used since the 19th century is still in use today, making aluminium cans highly recyclable. These tins have had many past lives and have many more to come. This, coupled with the low mileage that comes from producing wine in England, means you can drink guilt-free. In the words of Nania’s Vineyard, “Crack one open, enjoy, then send it off to its next incarnation!”