BELL & GONG - The Story Behind the Name
… When a ship of 100 metres or more in length goes to anchor in fog, it must sound a repeating signal every minute to mark its presence.
That signal is “a Bell sounded rapidly for 5 seconds in the forepart of the vessel, immediately followed by a Gong sounded rapidly for 5 seconds in the after part.”
Mariners remember it as “At anchor and long; a bell and a gong!”
With Simon leaving his career as a Master Mariner at sea to tend our sometimes foggy vineyard, he has gone to anchor - ashore.
“… For it is at Sea, that One may find
One longs for soil and growing Wine.
Warm hearth and family, good friends make merry,
Whilst seasons flow, we tend wine’s berry.”
… We also think it has lovely Downton-esque connotations, from days when One would go in for dinner at the sound of the Gong –then ring the Bell to summon the Butler to bring more wine!