Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - September 2024

September 9, 2024

Weather folklore for September states that “grey mists at dawn, the day will be warm”. Unfortunately this year a piece of seaweed would be more useful for meteorological predictions in our vineyard!


This year the weather has been abysmal for growing grapes in England: a cold, late Spring, followed by a predominantly wet Summer with very few warm spells. We live in hope for an ‘Indian Summer’ between now and late October but I am not holding my breath. The years in which we have abundant harvests - such as 2023 - help us to navigate the challenges of a year like the current one.


Thankfully we have plentiful supplies of wines from previous vintages - some of you will have had the chance by now to sample them on the two days we opened during August and September. Our harvest this year will ( assuming the grapes are left alone by badgers, pheasants, and other winged foragers ) be low yielding. Although there is reason to believe that the balance of sugar and acidity will produce outstanding sparkling wine albeit a very limited edition! Time will tell.


Our shop will be open on Saturday 14th September for tastings / purchases of our recent releases, we would be grateful if interest in attending could be done via the link below:


https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1011346553767?aff=oddtdtcreator

January 27, 2025
The month of January often seems a long one to endure post Christmas, with its cold, short days ; however it is always a very busy month in our vineyard, and with pruning and tree management to undertake this one has been no exception. Our vines are grown on a system called “Double Guyot”, learn more about how they are winter pruned here . Godstone Vineyard is surrounded on three sides by extensive areas of woodland, and, like everything else in the countryside, this requires annual management. We are very proud of our tree planting endeavours, which have taken place every winter for the past three decades. However, the countryside finds itself confronted by the horrors of “Ash Dieback” — an airborne disease which is wreaking havoc across the British Isles. To learn more about Ash Dieback, how it spreads, and control efforts, please click here . We have embarked upon upgrading our wirework in the vineyard, much of which is nearly 40 years old — the cost of steel wire is a shock ! We always love to see you at Godstone Vineyard and if you would like to join us for a glass or two of wine and perhaps a charcuterie and cheese platter we are open on Saturday 8th February , and thereafter monthly. Kind Regards Jonathan
By GODSTONE December 16, 2024
As the year draws to a close it’s time to reflect on the past year: the weather has dominated proceedings - a year characterised by incessant rainfall at the wrong time of the growing season which, coupled with severe bird damage on ripening grapes, resulted in no harvest at Godstone in 2024. This was incredibly disappointing. We have significant stocks of wines - bottled and unbottled - from previous harvests which will ensure continuity of supply in the short to medium term, however, a harvest in 2025 will be critically important if we are to avoid supply side disruption in the future. Fingers crossed for a far better year ahead. We will be opening our shop and café once a month throughout 2025. Our next date is Saturday 18th January and if you would like to attend then please reserve a place using the link below: 
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