Harvest helpers pick their moment to gather this year’s fruit of the vine
VOLUNTEERS HELPED to harvest the grapes at Albury Vineyard while staying socially distanced and wearing masks.
The vineyard is situated on the southern slopes of the North Downs in the Surrey Hills, just outside Guildford.
The vines are the traditional Champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, as well as Seyval and Pinot Gris.
The family- run organic vineyard carried out the harvest over several sessions between October 1 and 4 with their volunteer workforce.
Despite the harvest likely to take place in light rain, and described as hard- on- yourback and muddy underfoot the unpaid harvest sessions are regularly oversubscribed.
In September, a burst of warm weather provided ideal conditions to begin harvesting grapes.
And Holmfirth Vineyard, which claims to be the highest in the country, planned to start at the end of the month.
Ryedale Vineyards, which are set on south facing slopes at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, was due to begin around September
26.
The family- run vineyard, which has sites at Westow and Howsham, has just picked up another award – this time a silver for their Strickland Red in the Wine GB Awards 2020. Owner Michelle Fletcher said in September this year’s harvest looks like it will be a good one. There was some frost in May which meant having to light bonfires on the rows to raise temperatures, but the grapes recovered. It has also been windy, and this year they have had to replace 260 posts.
“Not so long ago we had a twister which picked up our marquee, ” said Mrs Fletcher. “The vines are quite robust – the wooden posts aren’t – they can just be snapped, picked up and tossed around.”
Their vines are grown using a low spray approach and their farming methods have a low impact on the countryside and even harvesting is done by hand, with the help of volunteers.