Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - July 2025

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

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
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