Jonathan's Vineyard Blog December 2022

Jonathan • December 8, 2022

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 - July 2025

By GODSTONE • July 1, 2025
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

By GODSTONE • May 27, 2025
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