Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog June 20th

June 20, 2022

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

 20th June 2022


I am delighted to announce the release of our Sparkling Wine from the 2020 harvest !


The Summer of 2020 seems aeons ago now - yes, it was the first Summer of Covid  and most of us were drinking solo or with immediate family !


The weather in Summer 2020 was a very mixed bag (i.e. typical for Britain); warmer, wetter and duller than average with June, July and August all seeing the occasional hot spell (for example, Heathrow Airport recorded 38 degrees C. on 31st July, making it the third hottest day ever recorded in the UK ).


The Seyval Blanc grapes which have been used in this 2020 Sparkling Wine were picked on Sunday 11th October - some of you helped with the picking - and at the time I was pleasantly surprised by the potential alcohol. I am delighted that almost two years later we have a wine which has reached 12.5% alcohol volume.


What can you expect from our 2020 Sparkling Wine ?  I have now sampled a few bottles (rude not to) and on the nose there is an aroma of toasted caramel brioche with hints of apple, pear, apricot, and candied almonds. The taste is exquisite and offers a clean, crisp and refreshing acidity with a candied brioche finish. This is England in a glass !


Therefore I am delighted to inform you that this Sparkling Wine from 2020 is now available from our shop at the vineyard. We have, like so many other businesses, found ourselves on the wrong end of inflation, however I have resisted all temptations to follow suit and am delighted to say that we have held our prices at £24.50 a bottle or £138 a case of six (equivalent to £23 a bottle).


We are a boutique producer with limited vintages - every bottle of our wine is made solely from grapes grown at our vineyard - and with this in mind we anticipate a very strong demand. If you wish to place a reservation - and the fact that you are on this mailing list automatically means that you are first to know - do not hesitate to drop me a line via my personal email.


I wish you all a most enjoyable Summer. Our vineyard and shop is open every weekend between 10.30am-4.30pm.


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