June/July/August 2019

We are now bud rubbing, tucking the vines into the wires and cutting the grass under the vines.  We are using a lawnmower to cut the grass between the rows.  We have to push the lawnmower 8,000 metres to get the job done, a labour of love.  The result of this process is to see the bees on the buttercups along the rows.  Is it worth it........?  Absolutely! 

Cider

Our sparkling cider which was aged in whiskey barrels has created a following.  We are now in the process of producing a dry sparkling cider which is currently on "lees".  This is champenoise style with two fermentations.  We managed to bottle 2000 bottles which are currently maturing and we are hoping to launch this in early 2020.

February 2019

We visited Barossa Valley in Western Australia.  This really is a very dry part of the world.  What really impressed me was how the Australians have turned their vineyards into places to visit.  The restaurants are not cheap but the food is excellent, and every restaurant we visited in the vineyards was full.  

Planning permission will always be an issue on our small island but this is how he industry will go in the U.K.