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Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - February 2026

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:04:41 GMT

1st February 2026

February 2nd is known as Candlemas and, apparently, the weather on this

day will determine the remainder of the Winter ! Britain being Britain we

have folklore sayings such as If Candlemas be fair and clear there'll be

two Winters in one year although, in the interests of positive thinking I

prefer this one - If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter'll have another

flight. But if Candlemas Day be clouds and rain, Winter is gone and will

not come again. Therefore keep a close eye on the weather on February 2nd

and if it rains then this might be a silver lining!

Irrespective of the weather, Winter is always a surprisingly busy time in

our vineyard and this one has proved no exception: pruning the vines,

planting new hedging, sprucing up our shop and terrace, all of which has

kept us on the straight and narrow.

As a vigneron you cannot reasonably expect me to do Dry January and, true

to form, in the past month I have been experimenting with some outstanding

white Burgundies and several local real ales! It's a tough job but someone

had to do it.

We decided to stay closed between January and the end of March however I am

pleased to say that we will reopen on Saturday 4th April, after which we

will have many open days throughout the Spring, Summer, and Autumn.

If you would like to visit us during April and/or May please register your

interest - free of charge - via the links below:

Saturday 4th April

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1978775826765?aff=oddtdtcreator

Easter Monday 6th April

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1979663039442?aff=oddtdtcreator

Bank Holiday Monday 4th May

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1979663129712?aff=oddtdtcreator

Kind Regards
Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog -November 2025

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:48:05 GMT

We have arrived at the end of another year in the vineyard and I am
delighted to say that the vines have excelled themselves in what was,
admittedly, a very good year to be cultivating grapes in England.

The disappointment of no harvest in 2024 was a distant memory on Sunday 5th
October when, under cloudless blue skies, we picked top quality grapes
which will be made into a Sparkling Wine for release in 2028; the grapes
had an almost perfect balance of acidity and natural sugar, excellent
quality with barely any disease. I would venture to say that 2025 will
match 2022, which was the last great vintage in England, time will tell !

I would like to thank those of you who helped with the harvest and also for
your efforts throughout the Spring and Summer, it is greatly appreciated
and we couldnâ€™t do it without you !

As many of you know by now, our vineyard is planted predominantly with a
variety called Seyval Blanc, which - in our opinion - is ideally suited to
English conditions. Undoubtedly the doyen of Seyval Blanc was Peter Hall,
of Breaky Bottom vineyard near Lewes, and it is with great sadness that we
learnt of his passing last month. My brother and I were fortunate to have a
private audience with him in 2024 in which he imparted some valuable tricks
of his trade ! His obituary (below) gives you a feel for this incredible
vigneron who will be much missed. English wine has lost a great character.

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/tribute-peter-hall-1943-2025

Rest In Peace, Peter Hall, 1943-2025

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - September 2025

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:34:54 GMT

The four months of the year which end in ‘ber’ are now upon us which means that Michaelmas Day (September 29th) is only three weeks away. Folklore claimed that if a north wind blew on Michaelmas Day the month of October would be sunny and fine although make the most of it because fine weather on Saint Denis’s Day (October 9th) indicates a hard winter ahead!

The sayings below are my personal favourites :

“Dew in the night, next day will be bright”

“Grey mists at dawn, the day will be warm”

“Rain before seven, fine before eleven”

“Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight, red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning”

In an age where for most of us the first port of call for a weather forecast is an app on our mobiles, these sayings often stand the test of time!

At the time of writing we do not have a definite harvest date and we continue to monitor levels of sugar and acidity every other day in the hope of arriving at the perfect day for picking! Last year the starlings treated our grapes as an open buffet so we are praying that we can avoid a repeat.

We are now open every Saturday between midday and 4pm and, as always, would love to see you.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August 2025

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 08:08:24 GMT

The weather has turned unsettled since I wrote to you in July and, after
four very dry months, we have returned to a more typical mixture of
sunshine and showers. At this stage in their development our grapes would
prefer settled weather and certainly more sunshine than rainfall. Fingers
crossed we are on course for a decent harvest however there are still a few
months to go until picking !

We will soon commence Brix testing of the grapes in order to attempt a
prediction of the likely harvest date - at present I would say that mid
October is looking realistic for our Seyval Blanc.

If you wish to know everything there is to know about Brix testing then
click on this link !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brix

I have some good news about our opening days for the vineyard - we intend
to open most Saturdays from September onwards; I will confirm this once
everything is set in stone. It’s been a long time coming and we are keen to
find a “new normal” for Godstone Vineyards.

In the meantime we are open over the August Bank Holiday (except Monday)
and if you would like to join us please register your interest - free of
charge - via the links below:

Saturday 23rd August

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1250420835379?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sunday 24th August

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1521889585719?aff=oddtdtcreator

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - July 2025

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:35:37 GMT

A consequence of warm, dry Summers (such as 2025) is the prevalence in English vineyards of a disease called ‘powdery mildew’; unchecked it can devastate the entire grape crop and so vigilance is required in order to prevent it taking hold. It thrives in humid weather and especially where airflow between the vines is limited.

Powdery mildew infection appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves, stems, and fruit. If left untreated it can stunt growth, reduce fruit quality, and even affect the flavour of the wine.

Of the two varieties which we grow at Godstone the most at risk from mildew is Bacchus due to its dense canopy of foliage. Our other variety, Seyval Blanc, is fairly resistant to mildew.

The best thing to do in order to prevent mildew from taking hold is an enhanced programme of canopy management, especially leaf stripping - which significantly improves air flow around the grapes, combined with reducing the amount of foliage.

We rely upon a loyal group of friends who kindly offer their services voluntarily on several days throughout the Summer in order to help us with our canopy management and we are eternally grateful for their help.

Our vineyard will be open on three Saturdays during July and, if you would like to visit, please kindly reserve your spaces using the links below:

SATURDAY 12th JULY

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-of-wine-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1250420093159?aff=oddtdtcreator

SATURDAY 19th JULY

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-of-wine-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1358395691079?aff=oddtdtcreator

SATURDAY 26th JULY

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-of-wine-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1436108622549?aff=oddtdtcreator

We hope to see you during July!

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - May 2025

Tue, 27 May 2025 12:41:58 GMT

My interest in weather forecasts borders on obsessiveness, and 2025 has thus far been fascinating.

The ten year average rainfall at Godstone for the period 1st January - 31st May inclusive is 200mm; this year the accumulated total is 90mm. It has been a very dry Spring as can be seen by the deep, wide cracks in the soil throughout the vineyard.

Spring 2025 has also been the sunniest since records began 115 years ago. The warm dry weather has continued throughout May due to a persistent area of high pressure known as a “blocking high” reinforced by an amplified jet stream which has trapped high pressure in place and led to the prolonged dry spells.

On balance, unlike farmers who are trying to grow cereals and/or grass, a vineyard benefits from a Spring such as 2025.

An established vine is able to withstand drought far better than most crops thanks to their deep root systems which allow them to access moisture that is not easily available to shallow-rooted plants. A newly planted vine would need watering in a Spring such as 2025 but most of our vines are almost 40 years old and have no moisture issues.

We would love to see you in June and will be open on two Saturdays:

BOOK A VISIT TO OUR VINEYARD FOR SAT 7th JUNE

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1343877988239?aff=oddtdtcreator

BOOK A VISIT TO OUR VINEYARD FOR SAT 21st JUNE

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1250419581629?aff=oddtdtcreator

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - April 2025

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:54:26 GMT

April is a wonderful month when nature bursts into life after the dormancy of winter; one of my personal highlights is the sight and aroma of wild garlic in the woodlands on the approach to our vineyard.

This bulbous perennial, with its distinctive and pungent garlicky smell, is common and widespread across the UK, most widely in deciduous woodland and on chalky soils. Wild Garlic is not to be confused with ‘Lily of the Valley’, especially since the latter is poisonous.

Wild Garlic is an ancient woodland-indicator plant and its presence is a sign that you are in a rare and special habitat; it flowers early in Spring and is therefore an important early bloom for the bees and other insects which pollinate them. The bulbs are also a source of food for wild boars, not that I have ever encountered one in East Surrey!

Wild Garlic was traditionally used in medicine - its bulb being a key ingredient in tonics for rheumatic problems and high cholesterol. It is nowadays a popular foraged ingredient (my brother makes an excellent wild garlic pesto!) - its leaves can be eaten raw in salads, blanched and used in place of spinach, or made into an interesting soup.

April and May are the perfect months to view Wild Garlic and we will be open on one Saturday each month; you can also undertake our ‘Champagne Challenge’ where we see if you can taste the difference between Champagne and a glass of Godstone’s finest ! We’d love to see you.

Book for Saturday 12th April

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/springtime-means-wine-time-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1128653175029?aff=oddtdtcreator

Book for Saturday 17th May

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-of-wine-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1250415659899?aff=oddtdtcreator

Kind Regards to you all

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - February 2025

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:35:05 GMT

We have passed “Candlemas Day” - 2nd February - traditionally the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In bygone times “Candlemas” was the day of the year when all candles that were to be used in church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them; candles were very important, especially pre-industrial revolution, and some people believed that they gave protection against plague, illness, and famine. However, in reality, candles were important because there were no electric lights !

Snowdrops appear in February. According to legend, the snowdrop became a symbol of hope when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. When Eve was about to give up hope that the cold winters would never end, an angel appeared. She transformed some of the snowflakes into snowdrop flowers, proving that the winters do eventually give way to the spring.

We have now settled upon opening one Saturday per month throughout the year, and, these are the dates from March until August should you wish to plan ahead:

https://www.godstonevineyards.com/contact

If you would like to come and admire the snowdrops in our woodland then we would be delighted to see you on Saturday 15th March.

We will be offering tastings and wine sales, alongside platters of local cheeses and charcuterie (perfect for sharing over a bottle of our wine).

Please book for Saturday 15th March using the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/springtime-means-wine-time-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1128641620469?aff=oddtdtcreator

Kind Regards to you all

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - January 2025

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:52:15 GMT

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

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - December 2024

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:49:14 GMT

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:

These open days are an opportunity for you to taste our current vintages, relax over a platter of carefully curated local charcuterie and cheeses, and enjoy a stroll through our vineyard. We always love to see you.

Although Christmas is a time for reflection we will not be resting on our laurels for very long ! Our winter job list is extensive - vine pruning / improving our trellising / planting new hedges and trees … It's going to be a very busy January !

I wish you and your families a very peaceful Christmas, a prosperous and healthy New Year, and look forward to seeing you in 2025.

KBO!

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Saturday the 18th of January 2025

Join Us For Our Winter Wine Down

We have the perfect cure for any winter blues ! A glass of our award winning wine combined with local cheeses and Kentish charcuterie.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - November 2024

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:13:28 GMT

14th November 2024

I have moved on from the disappointment of this year’s crop failure and begun our preparations for next season - winter pruning commenced this week on our Bacchus, which is very early but we have a lot to do !

A busy winter lies ahead with new hedges to be planted, vines to be pruned, and wirework which needs repairing.

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at our open days throughout the Summer and Autumn, your support means so much to me. With that in mind I am pleased to announce that, if you wish to enjoy our wines over the forthcoming festive season then we will be open for two days during early December.

Wednesday 4th December 10am-4pm

Saturday 7th December 10am-4pm

On both days we will be offering our Charcuterie & Cheese Platters.

An invitation to attend will be sent out very soon via email.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

Saturday the 26th of October 2024

Join Us For Our Autumn Celebration

Our boutique vineyard will be open for wine sales, walks around the vineyard, carefully curated platters, and hot food options.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - October 2024

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 15:15:05 GMT

I regret to inform my loyal readers that, for only the second time in our history, there will be no harvest at Godstone in 2024 (2012 was the other year). We have, with heavy hearts, raised the white flag after an unforgiving climatic year which culminated in sustained crop damage caused by starlings, pigeons, badgers, and pheasants.

The weather in 2024 has, for vines and many other crops, been horrendous - hereunder is a recap of what we have endured thus far:

Spring 2024:
March - cold and very wet
April - cold
May - warm and very wet
Conclusion - triple the long-term average monthly Spring rainfall.
Summer 2024 :
June & July - below average temperatures
August - slightly above average temperatures
Conclusion - the coolest Summer in South East England since 2015 with average rainfall.
Autumn 2024:
Unrelenting rainfall making disease control almost impossible (at the time of writing it shows no signs of relenting).

Many people are asking me where the most damage occurred and the answer is the Spring - a brief period of warmth encouraged the vines to open their buds only for this to prove a false dawn as a band of very cold nights descended upon the vineyard and caused significant bud damage. The buds which survived were then faced with biblical rainfall during the flowering period which resulted in very low fruit set.

We spent the Summer nurturing the remaining bunches of grapes in the hope that a crop could be salvaged but all to no avail, anything that survived the elements was eaten by ravenous birds!

It’s been one of those years and, of course, immensely disappointing; however I have learnt many valuable lessons which will be implemented from next year and - thankfully - we have sufficient wines in store from the years of bounty to see us through a desperate one such as 2024.

Thank you for all your kind words of support and we hope to see you at the vineyard either on October 26th or in early December.

Jonathan

(The image above shows the combined effects of botrytis - caused by the incessant rain - and bird damage from starlings and pigeons)

Saturday the 26th of October 2024

Join Us For Our Autumn Celebration

Our boutique vineyard will be open for wine sales, walks around the vineyard, carefully curated platters, and hot food options.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - September 2024

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:37:09 GMT

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

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August 2024

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:34:51 GMT

We are approximately two months away from the grape harvest and it has been a very trying year in the vineyard: a wet, cold late Spring followed by a predominantly disappointing Summer meaning that our potential harvest will be low in yield..

Bacchus is a precocious variety at the best of times - in a perfect growing year it will produce wonderful grapes resulting in a stellar dry white wine; however as a variety it has struggled to cope with this year’s climatic conditions.

Seyval Blanc, on the other hand, is a reliable performer at Godstone and - once again - has come to the rescue to save the day. If we have warm sunny periods of weather between now and the end of October then I am confident we will pick sufficient grapes in order to make a high quality sparkling wine.

Our ‘Open Day’ held on 10th August was a tremendous success and many thanks to those of you who attended; it was our initial foray into reopening after what has been a very difficult and traumatic year following the passing away of my mother last November. I like to think that she would have been looking down on us with an approving smile.

We are open on Monday 2nd September between 10am-3pm for wine tastings, sales, and charcuterie / cheese platters - if you would like to visit us then please register your interest via this link to Eventbrite, if you haven’t already done so:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/godstone-vineyards-open-day-tickets-995080812497?aff=oddtdtcreator

The main project of the Summer - other than trying to grow grapes in a cold, wet climate - has been bringing a windbreak under control, in essence it had trebled in height from the original intention and created unwanted shade on the adjacent rows of vines. We used an excellent local tree surgeon and the result is most satisfactory.

Additionally we have had great success with a wildflower project - the residents of our onsite beehive have had a whale of a time ! The benefits to our ecosystem will be amazing and it’s one more component in our pathway to sustainable farming at Godstone Vineyards.

I wish you a most enjoyable end to the Summer and hope to see you soon.

Kind Regards
Jonathan

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog June 2024

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:22:01 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog June 2024

17th June 2024

In spite of the cool, wet Spring and early Summer – which is far from ideal for vines – we have some wonderful news to impart: firstly, our Sparkling Rose from the 2021 harvest has been awarded a silver medal by the IEWA; secondly, we will be holding an ‘Open Day’ on Saturday 10th August.

Our Sparkling Rose from the 2021 harvest is 95% Seyval Blanc, 4% Pinot Noir, and 1% Acolon. It has achieved an alcohol content of 11.5% with titratable acidity of 8.5 grams/litre, creating a perfect balance of crisp acidity which is a prerequisite of English Sparkling Wine. We have 900 bottles of this award-winning wine so as with all our wines it is a very limited edition.

Open Day – Saturday 10th August 10am-4pm

We are delighted to reopen - in a limited way - after a very challenging period dealing with the technicalities of probate – finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. Join us on Saturday 10th August for the launch of our award-winning sparkling and still wines – the opportunity to taste and buy our new release wines at farmgate prices.

Bring along friends and family, walk the vineyard, chat with the owners, relax in our garden or under our terrace, enjoy alfresco local meats and cheeses. Free entry – numbers limited and subject to availability – to avoid disappointment please register your interest as soon as possible by sending me an email to: jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

We hope to see you in August – meanwhile fingers crossed that we get some Summer weather !

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog March 2024

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:39:30 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

26th March 2024

Winter has been incredibly wet and outdoor work in the vineyard has been anything but fun - however these are a few of the jobs which have been keeping us busy over the past few months:

Pruning our vines - the single most important task undertaken in the vineyard and one which will have the greatest influence on potential yields and quality;

Pruning our windbreaks - we have to undertake routine maintenance every few years to ensure that they don’t get too tall or wide - it is a difficult task which requires the expertise of a local contractor;

Planting new hedges and trees - we do this every winter and the results are beginning to speak for themselves.

Our shop and cafe will remain closed throughout 2024 whilst we deal with a myriad of issues following the devastating loss of our mother last November.

If you would like to visit us this year then your chance to do so is via our volunteering days - our two early season ones will be held on:

Tuesday 7th May
Monday 3rd June

Approximately 6 hours of gentle work within the vineyard followed by lunch and free flowing Godstone wine - if you would like to join the fun please let me know asap !

Jonathan & Robert

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog January 2024

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:56:38 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

22nd January 2024

It might surprise you to know that January is one of the busiest months in the vineyard year. Pruning is in full swing plus we are busy planting new hedges and trees.

Pruning is the single most important task in a vineyard because we are choosing the buds that will produce the fruit for harvest. It is a crucial task which helps us to maintain the vine’s formation; regulates the number and positioning of shoots thereby concentrating growth into key areas; improves fruit quality and generally ensures that the vine does not get out of control !

We have some vines which are now 36 years old and if anything the quality of their grapes is improving year on year, however, as you can see from the above image a vine of this maturity also requires some fairly drastic pruning in order to maintain its shape. This winter we have removed as much old bulky wood as possible from the crown of these vines and so far I am very satisfied with the resulting structure. A vine requires a lot of energy to power the sap as it rises up the plant once growth commences in the Spring so we are basically trying to reduce its workload - this happens to the best of us as we get older !

Our shop and cafe are taking a short break whilst we transition the business following the sad passing away of our mother last November; we are very grateful for the many messages of support and kind words you have written to us during this difficult time. We will see you again soon.

Jonathan & Robert

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog November 2023

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:31:37 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

23rd November 2023

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that our mother, June Deeley, passed away peacefully at home on 8th November, after a mercifully short battle against cancer.

I am sure many of our regular visitors will have become familiar over the years with seeing my mother at her vineyard; it was her “happy place” and it provided her with the serenity and peacefulness which she deserved and craved.

Our mother was involved with the vineyard since its inception back in the mid 1980’s and took great pride in running the shop as though it were an extension of her home - ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ would be a very suitable epitaph to her dedication in ensuring that everything was always orderly and well run.

Our mother left the cultural aspects of the vineyard to our team of contractors - although once a month she would do a ‘grand tour’ of the vines to ensure that everything was ‘spick and span’, and woe betide if the hedges and verges were not kept neat and tidy !

Our mother’s mantra was always ‘KBO’ (keep buggering on) whatever the situation in which she found herself - she had lived through evacuation during WW2 and the ensuing food rationing, which clearly left an indelible mark and made her the amazing person we will always remember.

It was fitting - and gave her immense pride - that her final year saw Godstone win a gold medal for our sparkling wine plus a record harvest in October.

Our mother will be sorely missed in so many ways - “To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die”.

(If you would like details of our mother’s funeral, which will take place in early December, please contact me via email and I will provide you with the details.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog October 2023

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:14:43 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

30th October 2023

Another year, another harvest!

I am glad to report that our harvest was ultimately a very good one, in spite of heavy rainfall at key periods during the Summer and early Autumn.

We were blessed with good weather on all three harvest days and, if you were one of those who volunteered your help, may we extend our heartfelt thanks for giving freely your time and dedication.

Our Bacchus were picked on 1st October and the Seyval Blanc on 15th & 16th October; acidity and pH were about as perfect as it’s possible to achieve on the Bacchus and also perfectly respectable on the Seyval.

In total, we harvested 3,000 kilos of grapes, which is just below our maximum potential of 3,750 kilos.

All in all, a good year which promises very good wines for drinking in the years ahead.

We have recently introduced a Charcuterie Platter to our menu which features gorgeous cold cuts from Owley Farm in Tenterden, Kent. Why not pop along and try it with a glass of our award winning wine, we are always delighted to see you. We are extremely busy at weekends so I strongly recommend that you book a great place on our terrace and/or garden area here .

Kind Regards,

Jonathan & Family

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog September 2023

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:33:15 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

12th September 2023

September is the month which gives me the most sleepless nights in the year ! I check the Met Office app every few hours hoping to see a long term forecast consisting solely of warm, cloudless blue skies, and no rain. I am writing this blog on the back of an unseasonably hot period which has been an absolute blessing for our ripening grapes.

I have been growing grapes in England for almost forty years and have no intention of making harvest predictions which I will then regret but suffice to say, if the weather gods are kind between now and mid October then we have the basis of a decent crop.

The very wet weather which we experienced during July and August has allowed some botrytis (grey mould) to develop - especially in our Bacchus - so at this stage the only thing that can arrest the disease is fine weather. Our Seyval Blanc - which are effectively disease resistant - prove, once again, why they are so well suited to cool climate wine areas such as England.

In my next blog you will read about our harvest but, in the meantime, please pray for a sustained period of decent weather on our behalf !

Kind Regards , Jonathan & Family

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog August 2023

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 12:22:05 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

1st August 2023

July has been an extremely busy month in the vineyard majoring upon the trimming and leaf stripping, especially in our Bacchus vines.

The trimming is done by a local contractor who uses a tractor-mounted machine which trims the sides and tops of the vine rows; reducing the vegetation above the top wire is particularly important otherwise the vines from one row would overshadow the next row and prevent sunlight penetrating the fruiting area.

Leaf stripping has been done by hand (thank you to those of you who have so kindly volunteered your help) and seems counterintuitive ! After all, why would you want to remove the ‘factory’ of the vine ? In the case of a vine the leaf takes one month before it provides help to the fruit (meanwhile using the plant’s energy) after which it only produces energy for three months and, therefore, by the end of July all that a leaf is doing is creating shade and humidity on the fruit.

Leaf removal promotes aeration on the fruit and increases exposure to the sun, which in turn aids ripening. In July we leaf stripped the east side of our rows in the hope that any morning sun will dry the overnight dew off the fruit; in mid August we will leaf strip the west side. The image at the top of the article shows a row of Bacchus after leaf stripping and trimming - note the promising bunches !

I hope that you are enjoying the Summer - it’s been a mixed bag in terms of the weather and we could do with a month of decent sunshine to help the grapes.

Kind Regards , Jonathan & Family

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog July 2023

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 08:30:41 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

4th July 2023

We have received some very good news since my last blog was published in May - our Sparkling Wine 2020 was awarded a gold medal at the IEWA Awards; only ten golds were awarded and there are nearly 1000 vineyards in the UK so we are incredibly proud of this achievement.

I consider it to be a starting point rather than an end game in our pursuit of excellence - everything we do in the vineyard at Godstone is tailored towards the goal of consistently producing top quality wines. I have long held the view that our soil type and topography are near perfect for growing grapes in England and this award feels like a vindication.

“Fantastic aromatics on the nose and great complexity. The mouthfeel and acidity is outstanding. An exciting sparkling wine that really opens up in the glass. Beautiful nose, with such good evolution. Really well balanced wine with depth on the mid-palate and a creamy, round finish. Really enjoyable !” - IEWA 2023 Tasting Note.

In other news we are now Summer pruning our vines : tucking in shoots, especially on a vigorous variety such as Bacchus; leaf stripping on one side of each row in order to improve ventilation and access to the sun.

Our alfresco garden area is looking particularly lovely this year so if you fancy popping along to enjoy a glass of our award winning wines then we are always delighted to see you any weekend !

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog May 2023

Thu, 25 May 2023 11:08:26 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

25th May 2023

Our first volunteering day of the new season was held on Tuesday 16th May and we were blessed with fine weather after what has been a rather cold and wet Spring.

A dozen of us spent the morning engaged in bud rubbing, which is a vital task and basically involves removing all the unwanted new growth from the vine trunk. It is a job which has been made far easier thanks to a hand held contraption that looks like the combination of long handled toothbrush cum hairbrush. Anyway, it does a great job.

We all then enjoyed a lovely lunch together on our sun drenched terrace - local cheeses complimented by a glass or two of our sparkling wine .

We are immensely grateful to those of you who help out on these volunteering days and there are a few more lined up over the course of Summer/Autumn if you wish to get involved in something rather different!

The weather has finally turned warm and sunny this week and so, after a slow start, the vines are finally begin to motor through their growth stages.

Our Sparkling Rose from the 2021 harvest is being released during the second week of June. I have had several advanced tastings and it is sublime.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog April 2023

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:45:06 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

11th April 2023

I apologise for not having provided a blogpost since before Christmas however we have most certainly not been idle in the vineyard !

The main task has been pruning all the vines, which is a massive undertaking and absolutely crucial in the context of the vineyard year.

It can be a wonderful job on a crisp, dry winters’ day but more often than not this year it has been pouring with rain, which is absolutely no fun whatsoever.

We have also been busy replacing any broken wooden posts in the vine rows and this has become increasingly difficult due to problems on the supply side with timber products, most of which have traditionally been sourced from Ukraine and/or Russia. Luckily our supplier had sufficient quantity to satisfy our order however its another unforeseen consequence of the dreadful ongoing conflict.

We have planted more new hedges and trees - they are incredibly useful in the long term for improving our ecosystem and the large resident population of pheasants is living proof that we continue to head in the right direction.

As I write these notes the hawthorn hedges are beginning to turn green and Spring is most definitely in the air ! It’s a wonderful time of the year.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog December 2022

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 09:07:24 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

7th December 2022

Christmas attracts more weather folklore than any other day in the calendar but many of the sayings share a common theme : the weather on Christmas Day will be the opposite of what happens later.

“At Christmas meadows green, at Easter covered with frost” and “If at Christmas ice hangs on the willow, clover may be cut at Easter” - the latter one indicative of a good growing season.

The saying “so many hours of sun on Christmas Day, so many frosts in the month of May” and similarly “If Christmas Day be bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year” both mean enjoy the pleasure of a mild sunny Christmas because there is pain ahead !

If a sunny Christmas is a bad sign then a hard freeze is good, foretelling a mild winter - apparently if ice on a pond or lake is thick enough to hold the weight of a person on Christmas Day it will not be able to support the weight of a mouse after that !

And now, last but not least, the most important folklore for vineyards in England … a windy Christmas Day precedes a good crop however a windy St Stephen’s Day (26th December) supposedly signifies a poor grape harvest. Apparently a day makes all the difference !

On behalf of my family and staff I wish you all a happy, healthy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your support during 2022.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog November 2022

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:41:44 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

15th November 2022

“If the ice on St.Martin’s Day will bear a duck, there will be none that will bear a goose all winter”.

St.Martin’s Day is 11th November.

The literal translation of this proverb, etched into rural folklore (cue ‘The Archers’ theme music) is that a freezing cold November will be the precursor to a mild, wet winter.

November 11th 2022 was a mild day here in Godstone and the ducks on our lake were swimming and floating rather than practising their ice skating skills.

I imagine that many of you will have heard at least a few of the sayings below however what I found interesting was that in a recent poll by the Met Office a good percentage of respondents believe them to be true, plus they make a pleasant distraction from the Accuweather app on my mobile, so here we go in no particular order :

Red Sky at night, shepherd’s delight

83% of Brits believe this to be true.Originally intended to help a shepherd plan the day ahead there is some truth in it - high pressure tends to bring good weather; high pressure traps dust and dirt in the air, which scatters the blue light, only leaving the red light remaining.

It is too cold to snow

62% of Brits believe this to be true however it is unlikely to be the case since moisture is a more important factor than temperature in the development of snow. Oymyakon in Russia is the coldest inhabited place on earth and they have annual snowfall of about 25 feet.

Cows lie down when it is about to rain

I have a personal interest in this one; a herd of cows graze the fields below our vineyard and after many years of careful research it is my opinion that they sit down because they are tired. I may write a thesis one day on this subject !

Pine cones open up when good weather is coming

This one is absolutely true - pine cones dry out during dry weather and they take on an open appearance, whilst in wet weather they curl up and close.

Rain before seven, fine by eleven

32% of Brits are convinced that this is accurate and, according to Met Office data, they are probably correct because 4 hours is usually enough time for rain fronts to pass. However a lack of wind will often lead to longer periods of rain in which case it’s not accurate.

In mid November I planted a new laurel hedge (photo attached above) - there was a glorious red sky the night before; the pine cones were fully open; it hadn’t rained by 7am, and the cows were all standing to attention.

Feel free to call me superstitious but my rural folklore checklist is far less stressful at the present time than looking at the electricity Smart Meter !

We are always delighted to see you at our shop, which is open every weekend between 10.30am-4.30pm; between now and Christmas we are serving complimentary mulled wine and mince pies for members of our mailing list (if you aren’t already subscribed and would like to be then just provide your details in “Stay In The Know” at the bottom of this page) plus there is a generous discount on a case of six bottles of our Sparkling Wine (£138 discounted to £126), available to all our members.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog October 2022

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:15:44 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

17th October 2022

Another year, another harvest!

Our grapes were picked under cloudless blue skies on Sunday 9th October in perfect conditions and thank you very much indeed to all the volunteers who so kindly gave their time to help - we hope that your day was an enjoyable one.

The above image of grape picking was taken by an excellent local photographer called Mick Rock and his beautiful images can be viewed (and purchased) via https://www.cephas.com - just search Godstone on his website to see a drone’s eye view of our harvest!

This year we picked a 50/50 split of Bacchus and Seyval Blanc grapes; the sugar levels were the highest that we have ever achieved at Godstone whilst the pH and acidity were both excellent, all of which leads me to believe that this harvest will produce a superb still white wine that will be available in our shop from May/June 2023.

The hot, dry Summer definitely contributed towards the quality of our grapes although I like to believe that our husbandry - which has moved up a gear - has also made a positive impact upon the quality.

The next two months are relatively quiet times in the vineyard, which is a relief, although we will keep busy with planting more hedges and doing some general maintenance. I am also hoping to squeeze in some days out, pub lunches, jump racing, and watching West Ham!

Our shop is open every weekend throughout autumn and winter, 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

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog September 26th

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:28:59 GMT

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

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog July 22nd

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:46:57 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

22nd July 2022

I am writing the blog at the end of a week in which we have witnessed record high temperatures across the British Isles - we recorded 38 degrees celsius here in Godstone on 19th July. High temperatures prove uncomfortable for the majority of us, however, luckily vines really thrive in such conditions and we are tentatively beginning to believe that, all being well, 2022 will be a very good vintage.

The mid Summer period is incredibly busy in an English vineyard and perhaps the most important task is canopy management. In essence we need to trim the vines and the labour cost of undertaking this would be excessive if we did the job by hand; therefore we use a fancy piece of machinery (expensive !) which fits on to the front of our tractor and, operated safely from the cab, cuts back the top and sides of our vines.

A job which would take one person several weeks can now be done in less than four hours - that is progress !

Trimming the vines is vitally important for several reasons : it results in uniformity of shoot length (if the number of leaves per shoot is similar and each shoot is able to provide for its own fruit then it is easier to optimise our yields) ; trimming greatly benefits fruit set ; removing excessive foliage significantly reduces disease pressure, especially Botrytis ; perhaps most importantly opening up the fruit zone improves sunlight to the developing grapes, aids the movement of air through the vines, and reduces humidity. The combination of all these will help us to achieve our main ambition, which is to produce a clean, healthy, disease free, quality crop.

In addition to trimming the vines we have now installed the post and wirework for our new vines which were planted in May 2022.

Our shop is open every weekend and our 2020 Sparkling Wine is selling like the proverbial hot cakes ! It is proving extremely popular as a refreshing antidote to a hot Summer’s evening so why not pop along and treat yourself to a bottle or two … we always love seeing you.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog June 20th

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:34:28 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

20th June 2022

I am delighted to announce the release of our Sparkling Wine from the 2020 harvest !

The Summer of 2020 seems aeons ago now - yes, it was the first Summer of Covid and most of us were drinking solo or with immediate family !

The weather in Summer 2020 was a very mixed bag (i.e. typical for Britain); warmer, wetter and duller than average with June, July and August all seeing the occasional hot spell (for example, Heathrow Airport recorded 38 degrees C. on 31st July, making it the third hottest day ever recorded in the UK ).

The Seyval Blanc grapes which have been used in this 2020 Sparkling Wine were picked on Sunday 11th October - some of you helped with the picking - and at the time I was pleasantly surprised by the potential alcohol. I am delighted that almost two years later we have a wine which has reached 12.5% alcohol volume.

What can you expect from our 2020 Sparkling Wine ? I have now sampled a few bottles (rude not to) and on the nose there is an aroma of toasted caramel brioche with hints of apple, pear, apricot, and candied almonds. The taste is exquisite and offers a clean, crisp and refreshing acidity with a candied brioche finish. This is England in a glass !

Therefore I am delighted to inform you that this Sparkling Wine from 2020 is now available from our shop at the vineyard. We have, like so many other businesses, found ourselves on the wrong end of inflation, however I have resisted all temptations to follow suit and am delighted to say that we have held our prices at £24.50 a bottle or £138 a case of six (equivalent to £23 a bottle).

We are a boutique producer with limited vintages - every bottle of our wine is made solely from grapes grown at our vineyard - and with this in mind we anticipate a very strong demand. If you wish to place a reservation - and the fact that you are on this mailing list automatically means that you are first to know - do not hesitate to drop me a line via my personal email.

I wish you all a most enjoyable Summer. Our vineyard and shop is open every weekend between 10.30am-4.30pm.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog May 16th

Mon, 16 May 2022 09:47:10 GMT

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

16th May 2022

The past month has flown by and we have been extremely busy - the main task was to plant more vines and this was accomplished under clear blue skies during the first weekend of May.

There is something very positive about planting - so long as the rabbits and deer leave the vines alone; it is humbling to think that such a small plant will be capable of producing a bottle of sparkling wine every year for the next twenty years, if all goes according to plan.

Viticulture requires planning for the long term !

I have good news regarding the release of our Sparkling Wine from the 2020 harvest : I have tasted it, and it is sublime ! We will be releasing it by mid June and I will relay details of the exact date in next month’s blog.

I am sure that everyone has their own reasons for loving the month of May in the countryside however these are mine : fresh grass and verdant hedgerows ; yellow fields of oilseed rape ; cricket, and a glass of sparkling wine al fresco !

I hope that we will see you at the vineyard over the course of the next few weeks and months - have a great Summer.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog April 11th

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 15:33:01 GMT

The past month has been a very busy one in the vineyard.

Firstly, we have now finished our pruning and commenced the tying down of fruiting canes.

We have a fairly late site at Godstone which, on balance, is a good thing since the bud burst is delayed and we will hopefully avoid the worst effects of any frosts; on the other hand we end up with harvests which run into the autumn, which can be problematic. Generally speaking I am delighted with the way our vines are looking after their pruning.

Secondly, we have been preparing the soil for new planting of vines - the photo image shows how the empty row looks after the ground has been rotovated and prior to planting. It is, like almost everything in the vineyard, a process which requires long term planning. This month we will be planting more Bacchus and Seyval Blanc vines, however I have been preparing the soil into which they will be planted for the past three years - ensuring that there are no perennial weeds, making sure that the soil is healthy, and rotovating it every Spring to improve the soil structure. It is now ready for planting although we are at the mercy of the importers and currently our vines are stuck in a logistical nightmare somewhere in Germany.

As the eternal optimist I believe that everything will come right in the end, failing which I shall have to resort to drinking more Sparkling Wine !

We always love to see you at the vineyard and just to let you know that our Sparkling Wine from the 2020 harvest will be released in early June.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog March 9th

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 17:01:28 GMT

We are transitioning towards steel posts as support for our vines however those planted in the 1980’s and 1990’s have a trellis system which uses wooden ones.

On the whole these posts have stood the test of time, nevertheless every winter we find it necessary to replace quite a few due to their age, condition, or both.

I do this job in the winter because it’s far easier during dormancy when there is no heavy foliage which needs to be supported. It’s vitally important to maintain a trellis system in good order not only for the fruiting canes but also so that a tractor may pass unimpeded between the rows.

In common with almost everything else the price of these posts has gone up ! A wooden post which cost £6.50 in January 2021 is now costing £8.00. I am sure that you are all encountering the same problem with inflation so I will leave it at that !

In spite of all the sadness right now in the daily news bulletins there is something endearingly hopeful about the countryside in March : snowdrops are in flower, daffodils are poking their way through the soil, vines are being pruned and new ones will soon be planted; the days are lengthening and Spring is on its way. There is hope.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog 16th February 2022

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 09:02:44 GMT

We are blessed to have a vineyard which is situated within superb walking country, nestling as it does in a fold under the North Downs Way and within the Surrey Hills AONB.

A considerable number of our visitors pop in at the weekends for a ‘refresher’ (glass of Sparkling Wine !) and a pleasant break whilst on their walk. We are always delighted to welcome walkers. The North Downs Way has, in recent years, become an inspirational walk whereby one is following the actual footsteps of our forefathers who walked the Pilgrim’s Way - the historical route purportedly taken by pilgrims from Winchester to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury, a prehistoric route which follows the natural causeway east to west on the southern slopes of the North Downs.

Another walk - shorter - which is proving extremely popular is the Woldingham Circular Walk, which begins and ends at Woldingham Station. This is an absolutely delightful way to spend a day and our vineyard is at roughly the halfway point - there are some shortcuts available and if you want any tips please feel free to contact me ! I walked a section in early February and my glass of Godstone Sparkling Wine which I imbibed prior to setting off most certainly put a spring in my step.

I attach a few links to these walks :

https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/north-downs-way/

https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/pilgrims-way-to-canterbury/

https://www.surreyhills.org/discover-route/woldingham-walk/

In the meantime I need to crack on with the vine pruning, which is now well underway, finish planting more hedges, and a myriad of other vital Winter jobs !

I wish you all a most enjoyable month.

Kind Regards

Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - January 2022

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 11:53:42 GMT

In a vineyard there is little time for either rest or complacency; no sooner than the Christmas decorations have been dismantled and we are back out in the vineyard undertaking a task which is critically important to the year ahead … pruning.

Our vines are grown on a trellising system known as ‘Double Guyot’ and on the whole they are mature (some were planted as far back as 1985). Each year the old fruiting canes are completely cut out and replaced by two new shoots (hence ‘double’ guyot) that have arisen from the replacement stub which was left the previous year. Great care must be taken to select healthy, well ripened growth that is conveniently placed in a central position. These new shoots have to be pruned according to the density of planting and the buds on the shoots. The two fruiting canes of the ‘double guyot’ vine should carry 10 buds per square metre of ground area. For example, in our vineyard where the vines are spaced 1.5 metres apart in the row with the rows 2.0 metres apart there is a ground area of 3 square metres for each vine. At this density, 30 buds can be left, i.e. 15 buds on each cane.

Pruning can take place from January onwards: early pruning leads to an earlier bud burst. If the pruning is delayed until March or April, the vine may ‘bleed’, which can appear alarming but does not appear to weaken the vine itself. In general we aim to strike a medium and ensure that our pruning is started in January with the intention of finishing by the end of March.

If snow/frost is on the ground during January or February then admire the pretty scenery whilst sparing a thought for our pruning team, who will be out there in all weathers striving to create the perfect vine for the coming year. It is on days such as these that my hip flask filled with sloe gin comes in very handy indeed!

I wish you all a prosperous, happy, and healthy 2022.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - December

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 12:52:31 GMT

Terroir!
Terroir is a French expression which means “a sense of place”, therefore when someone tells you a wine displays terroir they mean that the wine they are drinking tastes the way a wine grown and made in the region where it was grown and made should taste.

We like to think that Godstone wines have their own terroir - what you taste is a reflection of our upper greensand loamy soil, our steep south facing slope on which the vines are grown, and the typical English cool climate.

I was mulling over the nature of our terroir whilst planting 200 new hedging plants and trees last week ! Whatever anyone tells you this is not a romantic job - on the day of planting it was cold and wet to the point that I became so drenched as to require two changes of clothing during the day.

Hedge planting is not cheap either - the cost of the new plants, rabbit guards, and supporting wooden posts came in at £1,300. Any economic benefit is unlikely to be seen within a decade.

So why stand out in pouring rain, planting hedges, for no obvious financial benefit ? I do it because every handful of soil, every tree, every vine, means something to me. It is a personal love affair with the environment. It is about loving our landscapes, improving and preserving them, and leaving a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

I love Godstone Vineyards. I love the texture and smell of the soil ; I love the views across the Weald of Surrey and Kent ; I love our resident pheasant population ; I love sitting amongst the vines on a beautiful Summer day enjoying a glass of our Sparkling Wine; I love planting new trees and hedges which will still be there in a hundred years time. I love the part which I am playing in creating “terroir”.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - November

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:17:21 GMT

In this month’s blog it gives me great pleasure to report on our recent grape harvest, which took place under cloudless blue skies on Sunday 17th October.

We are extremely grateful to the twenty five friends and family who so willingly helped us to bring in the harvest; we picked from early morning until mid afternoon and then sat down together to enjoy a convivial lunch comprising our own homemade quiches, farm raised turkey, and all accompanied by our still and sparkling wines. It was a truly wonderful climax to a year which, due to weather and Covid, has been a very challenging one for ours and many businesses up and down the land.

We were very pleasantly surprised by the yield of grapes, which has resulted in a record for Godstone Vineyards. At some points during the growing season I had been genuinely concerned that we might not harvest anything at all - the Spring was cold and late, the Summer predominantly wet. The sugar level of our grapes was slightly lower than average, however this means that we will hopefully end up with a crisp, dry sparkling wine when it is released in 2023.

Looking to Winter.

Another year in the wine cycle draws to a close and yet we are already embarking upon the next one: post and wirework need to be repaired / replaced ; hedges and windbreaks need to be maintained ; winter pruning will commence in December. It quite literally never stops!

Our shop remains open every weekend throughout the Winter and we are always delighted to welcome you.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - October

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 09:38:07 GMT

In the vineyard year there are two months which consistently give me sleepless nights:

May, due to the threat of a late frost, and October, due to the prospect of wet weather and bird damage.

An English autumn is to be treasured for many reasons, whether it be the turning colours of leaves, the heavy dews of mornings, or the mellowness of late afternoons. However it poses several challenges for a vineyard : firstly, a wet period of weather between September and mid October will significantly increase the risk of botrytis (grey mould, bunch rot), a fungal disease which in the worst case scenario renders entire bunches of grapes unsuitable to wine making ; secondly, bird damage - it’s an open secret that our winged friends enjoy nothing more than the taste of sweet ripening grapes, and at Godstone we lose a significant percentage of our harvest every year to the resident population of pheasants, who quite literally walk up and down the rows of vines and eat the grapes which hang from low branches !

Positive hope.

In my next blog I will report upon this year’s harvest and I hope and pray that the conclusion of what has been a challenging year for businesses up and down the length and breadth of Britain will be a positive one for our vineyard.

In the meantime thank you for continuing to support your local vineyard, we are open every weekend and we always love seeing you.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 08:37:28 GMT

Not spectacular, but not a washout.

I, like so many others in English wine, am obsessed with the weather! The reason is fairly obvious - our grape crop is dependent upon it. However it often surprises me that I regularly misjudge the previous month in terms of sunshine and rainfall. For example, I could have sworn that it never stopped raining and that the sun never appeared last month. At times likes these I revert to the Met Office website and it very often throws up a pleasant surprise : July 2021 had a mean temperature which was 1.5 degrees Celcius above the 1981-2020 long term average (which is great news for grapes); unfortunately it was above average for rainfall (not great news for grapes), and it was below average for sunshine. In conclusion, so far the Summer of 2021 has not been spectacular for vines but neither has it been the washout many of us imagine it to have been.

A steady return to normal.

Where does all this place us in terms of the 2021 grape crop? First of all, the Spring was cold and dry, so our vines were very slow in coming back to life after dormancy; the Summer - so far - has been a mixed bag. In summary, I would anticipate a crop which is below average in yield. The silver lining is that a smaller crop will quite often be excellent quality, although much depends upon the weather over the period from mid August to mid October. Basically, for the next two months we require lots of sunshine and no rainfall. Of course this is not going to happen but there is no harm in being hopeful!

In common with so many other businesses we continue to deal with the many challenges posed by Covid, on so many different levels. The past few months have begun to feel a bit more like ‘normal’ and what has been so heart-warming is the response from visitors, first timers and/or regulars, who come along to enjoy our wine and food. Our aim is to create a warm and friendly “happy space” for everyone who visits our vineyard. We love seeing you.

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Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - February 2026

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog -November 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - September 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - July 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - May 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - April 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - February 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - January 2025

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - December 2024

Saturday the 18th of January 2025

Join Us For Our Winter Wine Down

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - November 2024

Saturday the 26th of October 2024

Join Us For Our Autumn Celebration

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - October 2024

Saturday the 26th of October 2024

Join Us For Our Autumn Celebration

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - September 2024

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August 2024

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog June 2024

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog March 2024

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog January 2024

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog November 2023

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog October 2023

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog September 2023

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog August 2023

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog July 2023

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog May 2023

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog April 2023

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog December 2022

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog November 2022

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog October 2022

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog September 26th

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog July 22nd

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog June 20th

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog May 16th

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog April 11th

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog March 9th

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog 16th February 2022

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - January 2022

In a vineyard there is little time for either rest or complacency; no sooner than the Christmas decorations have been dismantled and we are back out in the vineyard undertaking a task which is critically important to the year ahead … pruning.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - December

Terroir! Terroir is a French expression which means “a sense of place”, therefore when someone tells you a wine displays terroir they mean that the wine they are drinking tastes the way a wine grown and made in the region where it was grown and made should taste.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - November

In this month’s blog it gives me great pleasure to report on our recent grape harvest, which took place under cloudless blue skies on Sunday 17th October.

Looking to Winter.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - October

In the vineyard year there are two months which consistently give me sleepless nights:

Positive hope.

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August

Not spectacular, but not a washout.

A steady return to normal.

Terroir!
Terroir is a French expression which means “a sense of place”, therefore when someone tells you a wine displays terroir they mean that the wine they are drinking tastes the way a wine grown and made in the region where it was grown and made should taste.