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As well as having a love of Old World wine, he also is drawn to some of the New
World producers and particularly rates Californian Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Ben loves
the influence of the young ‘upstart’ approach to wine production, where sons or daughters
of vineyard owners bring in their own way of doing things with interesting results.
Ben’s love affair with wine began during his student days in London when he found
himself experiencing a wide range of cuisines. “The more I discovered about food, the
more it fuelled my passion for wine. I realised which dishes paired well with which wines.
It went from there. I don’t call myself an oenophile but I know what I enjoy.”
It is at his Dedham home where he is able to really enjoy drinking and sampling wine
with friends. The village of Dedham is a lovely spot to relax, close to the River Stour and
‘Constable country’. His house had originally belonged to a wealthy seed merchant and it
was important to Ben to honour the property’s history. It took over two and a half years
to restore this beautiful home to its former Victorian glory.
Ben likes that a fresh twist has been given to the idea of the traditional cellar. “The cellar
is used for laying down wine but I wanted it to store other things too,” says Ben. As well
as wine racks there are store cupboards for items such as cheeses and meats. Details
include bespoke cabinetry: some of the cupboards have zinc-coated, steel-mesh fronts
for the cheese to breathe.
“Once guests arrive, they have everything they need, from the snooker room and games
to the wine cellar and cheeses. Spending time at my country house is all about enjoyment.
In my view it’s no good having a cellar if you’re scared to open up your bottles. I want it
so everyone can partake in it.”
The cellar renovation was complex. In its Victorian days, ice bins were used to keep the
space cold. When the ice melted, water drained down the middle of the floor. “We had to
do some serious ground work,” Ben explains.
Other original features were enhanced. Slide one particular shelf and it reveals a secret
passage. A gun cabinet is hidden behind another section.
The cellar has also transformed the way Ben collects wine. Previously he had a
mismatched assortment of odd bottles. Now his system for consuming, storing and laying
down wine is more organised. “I can plan better and store a wider variety of wines. I have
the capacity to buy two or three cases of wine. There is less turnover.”
When Ben bought the property, he was told it had a reputation for being scary.
Now it’s a light and airy space. As for ghostly sightings or unusual noises, Ben hasn’t
spotted anything. “The only strange movements I’ve seen are those of wine bottles when
guests are staying!”