please Tread Softly

The energy! The event was hosted by Tread Softly and Niki Downs PR agency.

+18 This articles talks about alcohol. Please drink responsibly.  

At 9am on a Thursday, I sat on a train from London Bridge to Redhill. A 30 minute journey outside of London, leads you to Surrey and you are transported into the countryside, very quickly. As the taxis pulled up to The Salt Box, wee baby lambs trotted over to greet us, sweetly. The gentle baaing could be heard, long after we had left them and headed into the woodlands.

Why were we in the middle of the woods, I hear you ask? Well, I and many others had been invited to a Forest Day by our incredible hosts, Tread Softly wine and Niki Downs PR.

The setting in front of us was an open fire cookery, under a marquee, where we were accompanied by forest nature sounds. We started the day with a breakfast of granola pots and pastries, teas and coffees and were ready to embark on our foresting day.

Elderflower is commonly used in drinks, but it’s also delicious when mixed into cakes, tarts and jams. My Le Chameau wellies are always perfect for outdoorsing.

As we explored the great outdoors, we were introduced to the wild ingredients that grow commonly, here in the UK. In fact, most of the plants that we were learning about and that are edible, you will see on your daily walks. Nettles, elderflower and cleavers are great examples of ingredients that can be sourced and inspire so many dishes. It was encouraging to learn that I could create my own seasonal meals throughout the year, just by educating myself more on wild ingredients. The walk concluded deeper into the woods, where we met Lisa (Hinoki Forest Bathing). She would enthrall us on another journey, through our minds and souls, in the spirit of forest bathing. 

To those who are not familiar with forest bathing - no, you don’t get into your swimwear and swim in a secluded lake (although wild swimming is sensational and I’d highly recommend the lochs in Scotland). No, forest bathing, known in Japan as Shinrin Yoku, is the practice of relaxation. It is a simple method of being calm, embracing quietness among the trees, and breathing deeply as you observe every little bit of nature around you. The process is great for everyone to de-stress, boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. 

Lisa kicked things off with us walking intentionally very slowly towards our destination. The reason was simple, to make us more aware of our surroundings. The crunch underneath each footstep. The rustle of leaves as the wind blew through and the calls of birdsong. Of course, forest bathing invites all the senses. When the wind blew, I could smell pine and it instantly brought me back to Christmases as a child. Slowly walking past the trees, I suddenly noticed ants and woodlice going at their own pace, up and down the bark. Everyone became frightfully aware of just how alive the serene woodland really was.

For the next 90 minutes, we were welcomed to see, touch, listen and feel nature (the tasting would come later). What are the small things you notice when you slow down or even stop? Do you feel the ground beneath you, under your feet? Close your eyes and trace the ridges on the bark of a tree. Take yourself out of the equation and just breathe, slow and deep.

As we headed back to the marquee, I couldn't help but feel just so calm. Things that would typically overpopulate my mind, like work or stress, just melted away. I felt like I was floating. 

We had reached the big moment, the reason why we were all here. The wine tasting of Tread Softly’s newest rosé. Handcrafted from South Australian vineyards, this dry rosé was such a treat to taste because of its subtle spicy aromas, with mixed tones of strawberry and vanilla. 

Tread Softly is an eco-conscious wine brand, its focus is on producing naturally lower levels of alcohol, with minimal impact to the environment. For every six bottles of their wine sold, an Australian native tree is planted, as part of a regeneration program. I think this is such a powerful statement from a brand that is seeking to give back to the environment that we can often deplete from, very quickly. 

We tried several wines, including their red and white. Tread Softly also offers non-alcoholic wine, which I was particularly excited about. I will confess, these days I am not a drinker. I cut spirits from my diet years ago. My drinking is reduced to a glass of wine with a meal. I am not a big fan of overly sweet drinks either, but I must say, the rosé was delightful to drink. I think it’s because it’s not high in alcohol levels, I felt like I could drink it down so smoothly and easily. It is light and fresh, and you don’t mind sipping a couple of glasses with your girlfriends over lunch. And that’s what we did!

Smoked trout cooked on wooden boards over an open fire. The fish flaked off the board so effortlessly, hands down one of my favourite fish meals I have ever had. It also grew my taste appreciation for the underestimated trout. The main course was served with seasonal vegetables of asparagus and carrots, glazed and delicious sauces. The dessert was panna cotta, decadently rich in milk and the chargrilled strawberries added the sweetness. Washed down with a wine of our choice from the Tread Softly collection. I chose the rosé because that one was so light on the tongue and paired beautifully with our lunch. 

Tread Softly is now available at Waitrose. It is vegan friendly and crafted for conscious care for the environment. It is 30% lighter with an ABV of 9.9% and has currently planted 1.7 millions trees so far, with its mission to plant 2 million by the end of 2024. Priced at £9.99 as well, it’s a very decent price for a bottle. 

The best dang trout I have ever tasted.

All of the cooking done at The Salt Box is done over an open fire.

You will love sipping this rosé during summer evenings, in your garden and catching up with friends, new and old. Maybe you and your partner can enjoy it together with a beautiful meal. Or taste it solo, whilst soaking in your bathtub with a good book, relaxing after a long day.

Thank you very much to Niki Downs (PR) for inviting me to this incredibly magical day and thank you to Tread Softly for organising.