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 - 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

Jonathan's Vineyard Blog - 15th May 2026

By GODSTONE • May 15, 2026
May 15th The changeable weather has been the main talking point this Spring in the vineyard. Plus cest la meme chose! March was a mild and changeable month with periods of settled weather interspersed with periods of indifferent weather, the provisional mean temperature was 1.3 degrees Celsius above average; April, on the other hand, was dominated by a static anticyclone which blocked North Atlantic low pressure systems, resulting in a very dry, settled, and sunny month. April was a false dawn. May has been an extraordinary month with a distinctly chilly feel especially at night - many vineyards across England are reporting significant frost damage to the young buds which will, inevitably, result in yield reduction. Godstone is planted on slopes below the North Downs which allow cold air to drain away, flowing downhill and collecting in lower spots out of harms way so, fingers crossed, we appear to have escaped the worst of the cold nights. If you wish to read more about the science and reasoning behind vineyards planted on a slope or flat ground I highly recommend this article: https://grape-to-glass.com/index.php/flat-slope-vineyards/ We always love to see you and are now open every Saturday until mid September - plentiful free parking, stroll the vineyard, relax over a glass of wine with a sharing platter of carefully curated local cheeses and charcuterie, booking is recommended and greatly assists with our planning. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987770961455?aff=oddtdtcreator Regards, Jonathan & Robert