The ‘Great Man’ theory of history argues that the progress of human affairs has been shaped largely by the personal qualities and actions of significant individual leaders. This way of seeing things was much en vogue in the 19th century, but today has fallen out of fashion. Instead, historians tend to view things in the light of social and geographical forces. Leaders are largely carried along by, rather than in control of, these forces.

It may be that Essex’s Crouch Valley was always destined to become one of England’s pre-eminent regions for growing still wine grapes, regardless of the individuals involved. After all, its suitability for viticulture – particularly its low rainfall and high number of seasonal sunshine hours – would always have led to vineyards being planted eventually.

Yet it is hard to tell the story of the Crouch Valley without mentioning the impact of one individual – Roy Martin. Roy was the inspiration behind and co-founder of Martin’s Lane Vineyard, and while I was lucky enough to meet Roy just once before he unexpectedly passed away in 2023, he certainly made an impact on me.

Martin’s Lane wasn’t the first commercial vineyard to be planted in the Crouch Valley – New Hall beat Roy to it by about 40 years. But it was the first to be planted predominantly with noble French varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and the first to be planted with premium quality firmly in mind.

Roy’s younger brother Graham, an original partner in the vineyard, took over its running after Roy’s passing, and tells me that Roy first came to him in 2008 with an idea to plant vines. Roy took Graham up to a field behind his house, telling him, “there are other people looking to develop the field, and I’ve been thinking for a long time it would make a great site for a vineyard.”

By this point, Roy had been living in this house for about 40 years, and knew all the local farmers, and their growing conditions. “We hadn’t had an April frost for 13 years,” Graham explains. “Coupled with the clay which metes out the moisture evenly, it’s all added to the Crouch being a brilliant growing area. Roy knew this from the farmers, but we didn’t know for sure that this would transfer to the grapes.”

Indeed, when Roy brought in wine consultants to look at the plot, they told him the site was completely unsuitable for viticulture. “Experts said that the clay soil was wrong for vines.” Graham explains. Ironic when today the valley’s London Clay soil is feted as some of England’s best terroir.

Despite this, Roy was able to recruit six partners – Graham Martin of course, also the next-door neighbour, the neighbour beyond him, and some other people in the nearby village of Stow Maries. He also managed to talk leading viticulturalist Duncan McNeill into looking after the vines, and top winemaker John Worontschak to make wines.