By Donna Richardson
The experience of being transported to a beautiful wooden boat through the English countryside’s riverways on a lazy summer day was unforgettable. Recently, I was the guest of Roebuck Estates and Peter Freebody & Co., one of the oldest boatbuilders in the world, and we celebrated their 300-year history with a lovely event along the Berkshire riverside during English Wine Week.
As I enjoyed my sparkling wine while mingling around the boats, dressed in an olive-green polka-dot dress, I noticed how the boats gleamed in the sunshine on this lovely summer day. Our hosts, Michael Kennedy, CEO of Roebuck, and Richard Freebody, who manages Freebody and Co., a 300-year-old family business inherited from their father, along with his two sisters.
The family began as fishermen and then evolved into bargemen and ferryman and transporting goods up and down the river came into existence, it wasn’t until the late 1890s when the trains started to connect London to these lovely riverside towns and villages that gave rise to recreational boating on the Thames and things quickly went from skiffs, punts androwing boats into motor boats in the 1920s car engines began to be incorporated into the design – a time which these boats seem frozen in time – the age of elegance.
He explained that in the 1960s, fibreglass was coming into fashion, but Freebody stuck to wood and still makes the same boats to this day. “Everyone was telling him he was mad to stay with wood, but that was all he knew, so he kept going. Electric propulsion was popular in the 1890s, and then petrol came in, and now it is coming full circle again, he observed as he shared insights into the family business’s operations, highlighting the love and dedication that goes into crafting each handmade boat. The Freebody Slipstream epitomises the world of stylish boating with sleek, flowing lines, electric motors, and an effortlessly beautiful interior with a signature Freebody lounge seat and picnic drawer. Perfect for hazy days on the water. It is a timeless statement of style.”
We learned about the Italian interior design influences and how Carlo Riva ensured that all the film stars were featured in his boats. Certainly, they exude a dramatic Italian style. Carlo Riva took that concept and added Italian flair to the ship. They were works of art; the smaller Rivas have a single engine or twin engines in the larger crafts.
Sparkling Wine Launch
Next, we were taken to Danesfield House near Marlow for a sparkling wine reception in the garden, the former home of the Royal Air Force Reconnaissance and Photography Section, which opened in 1991 as a country hotel.
The three-course dinner began with citrus-cured sea trout, with lemon dill and sourdough, paired with Roebuck Estates Classic Cuvee 2018. The second course was liver parfait, accompanied by cherry, mache lettuce, and wood sorrel, paired with Roebuck Blanc De Noirs 2018. There was a Texel Cross Lamb in a Hazelnut crumb, accompanied by hispi cabbage, Black Garlic, and Apple puree. Paired with the new Roebuck Rare Expressions No. 96, we finally enjoyed Pineapple Carpaccio, featuring coconut, pomegranate, and Coriander, paired with Roebuck Estates Rose de Noires 2019.
Rare Expressions
The food was exceptional, and the chef and sommelier took the time to explain why each course was paired, allowing us to learn more about the Roebuck brand and its new expression. Roebuck Estates was established by two friends in 2013 and launched its first vintage in 2019. Since then, it has grown significantly and is now a major player in the UK wine industry, producing exceptional quality vintage wines every year. In celebration of the 2025 English Wine Week, a vintage worth waiting for was unveiled: Rare Expressions No. 96, with just 1,450 bottles available. This special bottle has been elevated by time and crafted with the best fruit of the 2914 season. It comprises a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – the three grape varietals found in the Champagne region, producing a rich, yet beautifully balanced wine.
Roebuck is based in West Sussex, near Petworth, another area of outstanding beauty in England. Its vineyard is sustainable, with its in-house ecologist driving various sustainability initiatives. Wildflower meadows surround the vines, and they use only organic fertilisers. The estate offers a range of summer events with unparalleled views across the South Downs, with relaxed summer sipping, Jazz in the vines, tours and tastings and wine flights as well as feasts in the vines paired with local chefs and pairings with Roebuck’s vintage sparkling wines.
About the writer
Donna Richardson is a travel writer who loves to travel and discover new adventures. She has been to 26 countries and counting. She loves good food, wine and cultural experiences and a hotel or destination with a story or history. Here she is at Lake Garda in Italy.
