Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - December

Jonathan • December 16, 2021

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 - February 2026

By GODSTONE • January 29, 2026
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

By GODSTONE • November 5, 2025
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 couldn’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