Thirty years ago, I was asked to find if there were any intellectuals in Essex. At the time, working freelance for regional newspaper the Essex Chronicle, I noted the Evening Standard had published a feature on Essex being the home of the second-hand car dealer and Page Three girl, and little else. The assignment wasn't tongue-in-cheek; I wanted to redress the implied trashing of my home county which, if you knew, had rather more to it than what the Standard suggested. Thirty years on, I was approached by Visit Essex to revisit the county which is, or was, my home and although I have made interim journeys to visit family, friends and a favourite boutique shop (which dressed me better than I dressed myself), I have, admittedly, always felt west is best - I now live in Richmond-upon-Thames, completely the other side of London. But, with this piece, I wanted to return with a different agenda, see what had changed, or not, and rediscover what Essex really has to offer. So it was wit
Jane Knight decants the lowdown on the UK vineyards offering accommodation, noting: British wine is bubbling with potential, with 879 vineyards, double the number from 2012.