Kristina and Ann-Marie, Off the Line Vineyard, Makers of Fine English Rosé Still Wines

Off The Line Vineyard is close to the Cuckoo Line in Hellingly in East Sussex, the now defunct Polegate to Eridge rail line closed in 1968, hence the Off The Line name! 

Off The Line Vineyard is owned and managed by civil partners Kristina Studzinski and Ann-Marie Tynan who settled in Sussex after moving from London.

I visited Kristina & Ann-Marie during the 2017 harvest - my first harvest and not my last. The 2017 harvest is the second for Kristina & Ann-Marie, although the vines were hit hard by frosts early in the season, the Regent vines yielded quality grapes.

Kristina & Ann-Marie chose to use professional pickers as there was a tight window to harvest and transport the grapes for pressing and fermentation by the team at Litmus Wines - 2018 will see completion of the winery allowing on-site processing of the grapes.

From the 2016 vintage Kristina & Ann-Marie produced two still rosé with one winning a silver medal in the UK Wine Awards.


Kristina Studzinski and Ann-Marie Tynan
Partners, Off the Line Vineyard
Kristina, Plumpton College Foundation Degree in Wine Production
& WSET Level 3 Advanced Qualification



Kristina Studzinski and Ann-Marie Tynan
Off The Line Vineyard
Makers of Award Winning English Rosé Wines


About the business
Q          Why did you start Off The Line Vineyard?
KS Our vision for Off the Line Vineyard evolved over time. Both Ann-Marie and I wanted a change of lifestyle and to create a business founded on our shared passion for wine. After studying for a Foundation Degree in Wine Production at Plumpton, College, we became really excited about the English wine industry and looked to buy land and establish our own vineyard from scratch. My training at Plumpton College provided the knowledge and connections to make this possible.

Q         What does the business do?
KS We own and manage a vineyard where we grow only red grapes. From our grapes we produce two styles of still rosé, Hip rosé and Dog rosé. 

Q          What is your favourite product?
KS It has to be our 2016 Hip rosé made from Pinot noir. It won a silver medal in the UK Wine Awards making it one of England's top still rosés. We were absolutely delighted to do so well in this competition at this early stage.  Hip rosé is also England's most expensive still rosé and selling exceptionally well.

Q          What does the future hold?
KS The future holds many exciting things. Next year we will be releasing a new rosé blend under a new label. And our purpose-built winery building with visitor facilities is nearly complete. We can't wait to be making our own wine and welcoming people to Off the Line. 


The purpose-built winery building nearing completion.

About your job
Q         What is the best things about your current role?
KS I love working outside managing the vineyard. Growing grapes in England is extremely challenging but I am the kind of person who relishes new challenges and solving problems.  It is the same with wine-making. I love the process of wine making; the decision making, the creativity and the physicality of it all. Being a business couple is a wonderful thing too. Ann-Marie and I have a range of skills that compliment each other and a creative spark which drives us and takes us to new and exciting places.


Regent grapes ready to pick on a unusually warm October day.

Q          What have been their biggest highlights/success in your current job?
KS Our first harvest in 2016 was magnificent and hugely rewarding for both of us. Further highlights include winning a silver medal at the UK Wine Awards and accolades from Julia Harding MW on the Jancis Robinson Purple Pages website for both of our 2016 rosés.  Critical acclaim is not the be all and end all though and it is hugely rewarding to know that people are enjoying drinking our wines and appreciating them on a number of levels.


Hip rosé, a subtle coloured silver award winning English still wine


Kristina & Ann-Marie created concepts for the label designs which were handed to top  wine label & food packing design agency BD Creative to handle the final designs.
Printing is done by The Label Makers who specialise in producing quality labels for major brands.

About your time Plumpton
Q What course did you study at Plumpton?
KS I studied full-time for a Foundation Degree in Wine Production. I also gained the WSET Level 3 advanced qualification.

Q          What was the best thing about studying at Plumpton?
KS There are so many good things about studying at Plumpton. What stands out for me is the opportunity to gain practical skills alongside academic and technical such as tractor driving, pruning and having the opportunity to train in a commercial winery. And. of course, gaining the opportunity to hone my wine tasting abilities while tasting great wines from all over the world.

Q          What did Plumpton prepare you for?
KS The realities of working in a vineyard such as winter pruning in the cold. I soon learnt the value of a good wooly hat and wearing good gloves and socks! Also the need for determination and guts as wine production is a tough business.

Q         What is your favourite Plumpton memory?
KS I have many wonderful memories. Working with Peter Morgan, the previous wine maker, really advanced me as a wine maker. Our group was also very enthusiastic and ebullient so we had fun. There was a time when we copper trialled the Dornfelder to remove unpleasant taints and this lead to a recital of Ode to a Nightingale by Keats! 

Q          What does Plumpton do for you now?
KS Plumpton has provided us with a fantastic professional network in the English wine industry and a number of good friends. At Off the Line we have benefited from having students working with us part-time and being part of our business. We also value the continuing professional training that Plumpton offers through the Wine Skills initiative and get involved in  suggesting ideas for training through the regional and national trade associations.


Vine Works provided a team of professional pickers who ensure only the best grapes are harvested within a tight schedule! Like Kristina, the founders of Vine Works, James Dodson and D'Arcy Gander are also graduates of Plumpton College Wine Dept.

About you
Q          Where are you from?
KS Ann-Marie is from Ireland. I was born in California of an English mother and a Polish father.  As I grew up mostly in Surrey, I would say that I am from the Surrey Hills.
                    
Q          What was your previous career?
KS I qualified as a solicitor and had a legal career working mostly in the government legal service. I worked in a number of different departments advising Minsters and civil servants on new legislation to bring about policy changes in areas including discrimination law, education reform and the national minimum wage. I also did casework including judicial complaints and criminal injuries compensation. I trained in a large City firm at a time when it was only just becoming acceptable for women to wear trousers to work!    

Q         Something about you . . .
KS I was a promising elite junior heptathlete and long jumper who trained alongside Daly Thompson in the 70s. My athletic career ended when I sustained a severe knee injury during a national long jump competition. Never one to be defeated, I did make a good recovery and played netball while studying at Oxford University for the St.Catherine's College team that won the university tournament. I was also captain of tennis at St.Catherine's and even played in the men's team on one occasion which created quite a stir! Having physical strength and a fitting spirit are useful in the business we are in.

Q What would be your desert island wine?
KS I would take our Hip rosé as it is my favourite style of rosé, dry and elegant perfect to drink on a sunny day particularly with fish. Definitely, a wine to take your time over. As I sipped it, I would be reminded of all the effort and imagination that Ann-Marie and I had put into making it. I would think of sunny days spent driving the tractor down every row in the vineyard whether spraying or mowing while looking at every single vine. I would remember challenges that we overcame and feel everything had been worth it. 

Q What is your favourite wine destination?
KS Ann-Marie and I love discovering new wine regions and learning from visits. For a number of reasons our favourite region is the Gaillac in south west France lying between Toulouse and Albi. We love the Gaillac as it produces a range of unique characterful wines mostly from indigenous grape varieties. Producers here are true artisans working with the  terroir in probably the oldest wine region in France. The countryside is stunning and not over run by viticulture and commercialism. Everything here is special, the markets, the culture, and the people too. We are both inspired by authenticity which is a rare thing in the modern world.

Thank you Kristina & Ann-Marie, it's wonderful to work with you - I can't wait to visit the completed winery in 2018!

Off The Line Wine
Website:       http://www.offthelinevineyard.com
Twitter:        www.twitter.com/offthelinewine @offthelinewine
Email:          kristina@offthelinevineyard.com & annmarie@offthelinevineyard.com

Plumpton College Wine Dept Wine Production Foundation Degree

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