Behind the Vines: How We’re Prepping for the Season Ahead
Spring in the Vineyard: Pruning, Planting, and Preparing for the Season Ahead
As winter wraps up and the first signs of spring begin to stir, we wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at what’s been happening in the vineyard over the past few months - and what’s on the horizon.
While most of us are tempted to hibernate during the cold, wet winter months, our vineyard team has been hard at work. Winter is a time of dormancy for the vines, but for our team, it’s anything but restful. Over the course of the season, they’ve hand-pruned an incredible 50,000 vines - a meticulous job that’s absolutely essential for the health and productivity of the vineyard. Proper pruning increases vine longevity, boosts grape quality, and helps the plants become more resilient.
Once pruning is complete, the selected fruiting canes are tied down to the trellis wires in preparation for the growing season. With another 50,000 vines now tied down, we’re ready to welcome the new season.
Waiting for Bud Burst
As April arrives, we eagerly anticipate bud burst - a crucial and somewhat nerve-wracking time in the vineyard calendar. Everything we do throughout the year hinges on these tiny buds emerging healthy and frost-free. While late frosts can be damaging, our vineyard’s coastal location offers some protection, sparing us from the harshest of cold snaps.
Boosting Biodiversity with New Hedgerows
This spring, we’re enhancing the vineyard’s natural environment by planting new hedgerows along the rows. These will serve as both natural windbreaks and rich habitats for local wildlife. We’re planting a traditional English mix including hawthorn, hazel, sweet briar rose, blackthorn, and beech - species that support biodiversity and attract pollinators like bees to the vineyard. A more biodiverse vineyard is a healthier one, and we’re excited to see how these new plantings will thrive.
Innovative Trellis Trials with Simonit & Sirch
We’re also undertaking trellis system trials in collaboration with the renowned master pruners Simonit & Sirch. Based in Italy, this world-class team has worked with vineyards from Bordeaux to Napa Valley, and we’re honoured to have their expertise in our vineyard.
The goal of these trials is to adapt our vineyard to the ever-unpredictable British summers. We're testing ways to increase airflow and light penetration in the vine canopy - spacing trellis wires more deeply and exploring the use of reflective materials to boost sunlight around the vines. Another approach we’re trialling is maintaining bare soil around the vines to help increase soil temperature and heat potential.
Simonit & Sirch’s philosophy centres around rediscovering the art and science of pruning, and their guidance is helping us raise the bar on our vineyard practices.
Book your tour now and join us this season as the vineyard awakens and the next chapter begins. We can’t wait to welcome you!
