Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog September 26th

September 26, 2022

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog

September 2022


We are in the final furlong of this year’s growing season and harvest is fast approaching.

I have been reading in the national press all kinds of predictions about a stellar grape harvest thanks to the very hot Summer however, from my observations, I would say that the potential yield is only slightly above average (possibly due to some losses earlier in the season due to late frosts) although I remain cautiously optimistic that the quality will make up for quantity and, so far as we are concerned at Godstone, the main driver behind all that we do is our objective of producing top quality wine.


The next three weeks will see me in a heightened state of paranoia as I watch the weather forecast every evening, praying for dry weather, and hoping that the birds leave our grapes alone. Other than that I really enjoy late September !  It’s a melancholy month with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, watery sunshine, the last remnants of Summer before we bunker down for another winter.


I am really proud of all the new hedges which we have planted over the past 20 years and I attach with this article a photo which shows a five year old beech hedge. I still remember standing out on a bitterly cold winters’ day, planting this hedge by hand, and thinking that I must be mad going to so much trouble but now, looking at such a glorious addition to our landscape, I know that all the effort was worthwhile. I have to admit that my hip flask filled with sloe gin, on a cold winters’ day, really aids the hedge planting process !


Our shop is open every weekend between 10.30am-4.30pm and we are always delighted to welcome you. If you haven’t already tasted our Sparkling Wine from the 2020 harvest then I would urge you to do so !  There is a taste of English Summer in every bottle !


Kind Regards


Jonathan

jcdeeley@godstonevineyards.com

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

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - September 2025

By GODSTONE • September 4, 2025
The four months of the year which end in ‘ber’ are now upon us which means that Michaelmas Day (September 29th) is only three weeks away. Folklore claimed that if a north wind blew on Michaelmas Day the month of October would be sunny and fine although make the most of it because fine weather on Saint Denis’s Day (October 9th) indicates a hard winter ahead! The sayings below are my personal favourites : “Dew in the night, next day will be bright” “Grey mists at dawn, the day will be warm” “Rain before seven, fine before eleven” “Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight, red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning” In an age where for most of us the first port of call for a weather forecast is an app on our mobiles, these sayings often stand the test of time! At the time of writing we do not have a definite harvest date and we continue to monitor levels of sugar and acidity every other day in the hope of arriving at the perfect day for picking! Last year the starlings treated our grapes as an open buffet so we are praying that we can avoid a repeat. We are now open every Saturday between midday and 4pm and, as always, would love to see you. Kind Regards Jonathan