Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - August 2025

GODSTONE • August 4, 2025

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 Notes - 11th August 2026

By GODSTONE • August 11, 2026
11th August 2026 We have been extremely busy in the vineyard, however let's talk about the weather! It's been a remarkably hot, dry Summer in Southern England, you don't need me to point that out, and we are one of the only agricultural sectors who are not suffering as a result of the relentless sunshine combined with lack of rainfall. Vines do not need Summer rainfall, in fact, dry weather is ideal because heavy rain or high humidity close to harvest causes the berries to swell and split, dilutes sugar levels, and triggers fungal diseases such as mildew. Dry Summers generally produce much higher-quality grapes. A grapevine typically requires roughly 10-35 inches of water annually to support their growth cycle, and they prefer to absorb this moisture through winter and spring rainfall stored deep within the soil. Grapevines are deep-rooting plants; whilst the majority of their roots (about 60-80%) live in the top 2-3 feet of soil, their anchor and tap roots can push down to 15-20 feet or more. At the time of writing we do not have a definitive harvest date but needless to say it will be a few weeks earlier than normal. We remain open every Saturday between now and the end of September and always love seeing you. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-in-the-vines-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1 987770961455?aff=oddtdtcreator Regards, Jonathan & Robert

Jonathan’s Vineyard Notes - 17th June 2026

By GODSTONE • June 17, 2026
17th June 2026 June is usually a busy month in the vineyard and this year has been no exception. Firstly, bud rubbing and shoot selection has been undertaken - removing unwanted shoots from the trunk - done by hand - after which shoot selection, a critical task which is not so much about keeping the strongest shoots but more about retaining the best positioned ones. Good spacing improves airflow, reduces disease pressure, and makes future tasks more straightforward. Early thinning prevents canopy overcrowding later on. Secondly, we moved on to tucking in, because as shoots extend the main priority is keeping them upright. If done properly this tucking in enables the vines to form a neat hedge-like canopy, thereby improving light distribution and keeping the fruiting zone accessible. In July our main job will be tipping and / or topping the vines, followed by leaf stripping. I will let you know how we get on with these tasks in my next edition of these Notes. We always love to see you and the vineyard is open every Saturday until mid September - with free parking, free self guided vineyard walks, and sharing platters of carefully curated local cheeses and charcuterie, it's a lovely way to enjoy a Saturday this Summer ! (Booking is appreciated and greatly assists with our planning …) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-in-the-vines-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1 987770961455?aff=oddtdtcreator Regards, Jonathan & Robert