Blue Aurora was born at Lutton Farm. It’s family-run on the border between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. A lovely part of the country, and the land is evidently perfect for the production of soft fruits.
Lutton Farm was originally a livestock and arable farm with a small pick-your-own fruit patch. In 1981, brothers Stephen and James Long returned to run the farm, and in 1991 the land was converted into a commercial soft-fruit farm, growing strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. They began supplying the UK’s supermarkets but it wasn’t until 2006 that they started growing blueberries.
Great tasting fruit
Now around 45ha of the farm is dedicated to growing blueberries. In 2018, blueberry production increased to over 500 tonnes in a year. Through the grading process this then typically produces between 15-20% “waste”. The waste is often fruit that is either slightly too small or too soft for the supermarkets, but otherwise it is still great quality, great tasting fruit! Could this be turned into a delicious product? It seems it could!
In November 2018, Stephen sent 3 tonnes of frozen blueberries to a winery to begin the experimentation phase of the project. Working with experts in the wine field and with lots of trial and error, the first bottles of Blue Aurora blueberry wine and blueberry ice wine were successfully bottled 7 months later.
Blue Aurora is made from 100% English blueberries, hand-picked from Lutton Farm, and those berries make this luscious, sweet Ice Wine. It is fruity and jammy and the perfect wine to partner dessert tarts, or try as a topping for a simple vanilla ice cream. It is lovely served neat over ice. It’s gluten-free and suitable for vegans.