Latest from our Vineyard

I thought it about time I introduced readers to my four-legged vineyard partner. He goes by the name of Ludo. As you can see from the photograph, he is a working cocker and he likes to have something in his mouth – most of the time.

This is the month of bud burst when things are at their most vulnerable to the potential ravages of overnight spring frost.  The month has been cold and wet which has slowed nature down – for which I have been grateful.

I had no idea that sheep have long memories… and hold grudges. So, it seems. I thought it was just elephants. The grandchildren of the sheep we evicted from our fields 11 years ago in order to plant a vineyard have sought revenge by attacking many of the freshly cut vine spurs. 

I am in Olso, Norway on pleasure but I cannot resist checking out the government liquor store in the centre of town.  The sale of wine and spirits in Scandinavia is strictly controlled by the government and has been for 100 years.  No guesses why.  Vinmonopolet is the operation in Norway. 

It has been blowing a hooley for the last few days together with driving rain.  I have dressed up like a spaceman to face the elements to start the long process of winter pruning.

Another month of light duties. As I walk Ludo in the morning, I wander down several vine rows, thinking about how I might tackle pruning a few tricky fellas.  Some have unproductive limbs that will need surgery — with due care that the ensuing dieback from the wound does not spread into the healthy centre of the crown.  Better small cuts each year rather than one large on.

This is the time of year, after months of slog, to put one’s feet up and do nothing in the vineyard — or at least next to nothing. There is one final biodynamic spray to do: horn manure (BD500) plus a compost mix, all for soil improvement. I pick a day when there is no frost on the ground as this is very important.

There were shredded nerves in the run-up to harvest this year — plus ca change. Life in the vineyard would not be the same without the regular existential crisis. We actually began to wonder in late September whether the grapes would even reach the required sugar levels before the autumn closed in.

In a bid to give the vines resistance to mildew, we use plants with medicinal properties out of which we make ‘teas’ for spraying during the rainy July.

One of the highlights during June was a visit to Offbeat Winery in Downton, just outside Salisbury, to meet up with Daniel and Nicola (and Jarvis the cocker spaniel), our winemakers, in order to sample the 2022 wines prior to bottling (tirage).