Sunday 29th September 10-12pm, in partnership with our local neighbouring vineyard, the Silverhand Estate in Luddesdown join us for a morning of history and then a tour of the vineyard.

Always been interested in finding out more about the great history that fills Dodes walls….

Many people believe that Dode was built in 1100 by Gundulf, a Norman Bishop and contemporary & confidant of both William the Conqueror and his son William Rufus. There is good historical evidence to suggest this. Bishop Gundulf is best known for building the Tower of London (White Tower) and Colchester Castle.

The author of Lord of the Rings, J.R.R Tolkien, was well acquainted with the life and times of Gundulf as he was a professor of Anglo-Saxon history at Oxford.

So, this begs the question; was Gandalf’s name (arguably the most famous wizard in literature) based on the builder of Dode? The similarity to the name together with the reference to the Two Towers certainly may be more than just a coincidence!

After learning all about the history of Dode, you will then get to enjoy a vineyard tour at the Silverhand Estate, a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of natural beauty and rich heritage. It is defining the new rules of English sparkling wine, having established the largest single organic vineyard in the UK, covering an area of more than 500 acres.
Join us to learn about the history of our estate, our sustainable and ethical practices and our organic farming and viticulture.

BOOK TICKETS HERE, £25pp (includes donation to our charity The Wisdom Hospice)