Matthew Bernstein - Kenton Vineyard

Name: Matthew Bernstein

Job Title: Proprietor

Vineyard: Kenton Vineyard

How did you come to work in the English wine Industry?
I became interested in English Wine in the early 1990s, visited vineyards, and eventually became aware of Plumpton College’s courses on viticulture. I went to one, and on day one realised immediately that I desperately wanted to run a vineyard. The rest was logistics - although it took a few years.

What do you ACTUALLY do?
Everything! I manage the vineyard, tend to the vines, drive the tractors, run the harvest, make the wine and sell the wine.

What did you do before?
I was a solicitor in the City of London specialising in Intellectual Property.

What's the best thing about your job?
Being told by someone that they really like our wine, and knowing they mean it.  It's even better when it is obvious that they are surprised to be saying it.

What's the worst?
Having to spray the vineyard.

If you had to choose another profession, what would it be?
I would like to teach Maths.

Who do you most admire, living or dead and why?
Johann Sebastian Bach. Endlessly creative and totally dedicated to his work: to me, the greatest composer of all time.  I listen to his music most days.

Red, white, pink or bubbles?
Everything. I’m bewildered when people say they don’t like a particular colour or type of wine. There are so many different types and styles available: there’s something for everyone.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
My first career was selling contemporary art in a top gallery in London’s Cork Street.

Why should people drink English wine?
Because it’s good, and, for still wines at least, is quite unlike anything that’s available from other wine producing countries.