Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog
September 2022
We are in the final furlong of this year’s growing season and harvest is fast approaching.
I have been reading in the national press all kinds of predictions about a stellar grape harvest thanks to the very hot Summer however, from my observations, I would say that the potential yield is only slightly above average (possibly due to some losses earlier in the season due to late frosts) although I remain cautiously optimistic that the quality will make up for quantity and, so far as we are concerned at Godstone, the main driver behind all that we do is our objective of producing top quality wine.
The next three weeks will see me in a heightened state of paranoia as I watch the weather forecast every evening, praying for dry weather, and hoping that the birds leave our grapes alone. Other than that I really enjoy late September ! It’s a melancholy month with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, watery sunshine, the last remnants of Summer before we bunker down for another winter.
I am really proud of all the new hedges which we have planted over the past 20 years and I attach with this article a photo which shows a five year old beech hedge. I still remember standing out on a bitterly cold winters’ day, planting this hedge by hand, and thinking that I must be mad going to so much trouble but now, looking at such a glorious addition to our landscape, I know that all the effort was worthwhile. I have to admit that my hip flask filled with sloe gin, on a cold winters’ day, really aids the hedge planting process !
Our shop is open every weekend between 10.30am-4.30pm and we are always delighted to welcome you. If you haven’t already tasted our Sparkling Wine from the 2020 harvest then I would urge you to do so ! There is a taste of English Summer in every bottle !
Kind Regards
Jonathan
jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com
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