Special treat for grape pickers
VOLUNTEER grape pickers were given a surprise free gift after they gathered in a bumper harvest at Holmfirth Vineyard.
A total of 48 volunteers helped vineyard owners Becky and Ian Sheveling gather white and red grapes during wet and windy conditions on Monday.
The volunteers enjoyed a free twocourse lunch - with house wine - in the vineyard restaurant and were then given tickets for a wine-tasting session next June.
It will mean they will get to taste wines made from grapes they picked themselves.
Ian said the 2018 vintage was expected to produce the best English white wine in a decade.
“All vineyards have done really well this year,” he told the pickers.
“2018 is a very good year for grapes and for English wine. Acidity and sugar levels (in the grapes) are good.”
During half a day’s picking volunteers collected solaris white grapes and organically-grown reds.
Ian said the 2018 English wine was expected to be good.
“If you are going to buy English wine, this year (2018) is the best to buy. This is the year they are at the top of their game.”
He said a cold winter followed by warm, dry conditions had helped produce a good quality crop.
Volunteers said they had enjoyed the novel experience of picking the grapes and putting them into the press.
Charlotte Wade, who picked the grapes alongside her mum Katie and friend Ingrid Lightowlers, said: “We had a great day.
“The couple who own the vineyard are lovely and we were overwhelmed with their generosity. We loved how everyone came from all over.
“Ingrid, myself, my mum and my auntie thoroughly enjoyed it and the meal was superb. We loved the idea of the tour and tasting – what a lovely treat.”
Ingrid joked that she was more of a fan of gin, adding: “I thought I would come along because the vineyard is fascinating.”
John Miller, who drove up from Honley, said: “I have always wanted to have a go at working in a vineyard. I saw the appeal for volunteers in the Examiner and thought I would give it a go.”
Torquil McRae, a Glaswegian now living in Shepley, said the promise of a free lunch had tempted him to give grape picking a go alongside his wife Karen.
“Being retired it’s quite nice to do something different,” he said, adding: “The weather stops you feeling too French.”
Vineyard co-owner Becky thanked the volunteers, saying all they had picked all the grapes by 1.30pm.
“They were a lovely bunch who came from all over – Manchester, Leeds, Birstall, Huddersfield and Oldham. Hopefully they will all come back next year.”
Holmfirth Vineyard markets its wines under the brand Sheveling Wine Estate which they created in 2017 alongside a £1.5m investment in a revamped winery, restaurant and conference space.
They also bought land near Robin Hood’s Bay where they planted 19,000 vines.
Holmfirth Vineyard is one of a handful of thriving vineyards in Yorkshire, among them Leventhorpe Vineyard in Woodlesford on the outskirts of Leeds, and the Yorkshire Heart vineyard at Nun Monkton, between Harrogate and York.