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 - May 2025

By GODSTONE • May 29, 2025
27th May 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

Jonathan’s Vineyard Blog - April 2025

By GODSTONE • April 4, 2025
April is a wonderful month when nature bursts into life after the dormancy of winter; one of my personal highlights is the sight and aroma of wild garlic in the woodlands on the approach to our vineyard. This bulbous perennial, with its distinctive and pungent garlicky smell, is common and widespread across the UK, most widely in deciduous woodland and on chalky soils. Wild Garlic is not to be confused with ‘Lily of the Valley’, especially since the latter is poisonous. Wild Garlic is an ancient woodland-indicator plant and its presence is a sign that you are in a rare and special habitat; it flowers early in Spring and is therefore an important early bloom for the bees and other insects which pollinate them. The bulbs are also a source of food for wild boars, not that I have ever encountered one in East Surrey! Wild Garlic was traditionally used in medicine - its bulb being a key ingredient in tonics for rheumatic problems and high cholesterol. It is nowadays a popular foraged ingredient (my brother makes an excellent wild garlic pesto!) - its leaves can be eaten raw in salads, blanched and used in place of spinach, or made into an interesting soup. April and May are the perfect months to view Wild Garlic and we will be open on one Saturday each month; you can also undertake our ‘Champagne Challenge’ where we see if you can taste the difference between Champagne and a glass of Godstone’s finest ! We’d love to see you. Book for Saturday 12th April https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/springtime-means-wine-time-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1128653175029?aff=oddtdtcreator Book for Saturday 17th May https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-of-wine-at-godstone-vineyards-tickets-1250415659899?aff=oddtdtcreator Kind Regards to you all Jonathan