This winter we have been replacing the block of Optima which we removed in 2006.  We shall be planting a new white variety called Solaris, an additional red variety called Acolon, and boosting our plantings of Kerner.  We are also replacing diseased vines in our block of Findling (which we have recently discovered to be Hungarian rather than German!).

We are currently selectively enriching the soil and reintroducing its organic structure by spreading just under 200 tonnes of compost!  A slow task!

spreading compost down snow dusted rows

Loading compost into the spreader, over and over again.

2007 Vintage
The year started well enough - a warm early spring brought the buds on and fortunately, there were no late frosts!  There were hopes of generous flowering this year following the long hours of sunshine which characterised the summer of 2006 (the size of the flower bunches being determined by the amount of sunshine received in the previous year).  However, it rained heavily in June and July over the flowering period.  The vines tried their best to set fruit but as with everywhere else in England, this was sporadic and occurred over a very long period.

Harvest arrived early - our Ortega and Findling managed to ripen their greatly reduced load of grapes by the end of September.  Pickers happily picked a small harvest of grapes packed with sugar and flavour - if fermented dry we would have achieved an alcohol level of 13.5%.  We have turned this into a luscious medium white which we have named The Paradox.

The other varieties, which faired better in setting fruit, ripened gradually throughout October.  Due to the uneven fruit set we picked some varieties more than once to ensure only ripe grapes made it to the press.  Our Bacchus bore fruit for the first time and we have blended its wine in with the Huxelrube and  Perle to make a very full bodied 2007 Oxford Dry.

Although we plucked as many flowers off our young red vines as we possibly could, some were missed.  The few bunches which did set were picked and made into a very exciting new blend.  Only 30 litres were produced and we have made it into a rosé by blending some white wine made from Huxelrube and a hint of Ortega.  This elegant, dry wine has been named Oxford Pink.

New Vines
As mentioned earlier the vines planted three and a half years ago are gradually maturing - and we cropped the Bacchus for the first time in 2007.  It is likely that we will be cropping from all the three year olds (Bacchus and Ortega), which have matured  to such a point that they can now do with minimal protection from rabbits.  However, they will not reach their maximum production for a couple more years, and the flavours of the wines produced from these will continue to develop for many, many more years.

The three year old Reds, as predicted, are slower but again, we hope to crop from them this year.  Many still need heavy training to get their "old wood" into a proper state.  Interestingly, their leaves turned a fabulous array of reds, yellows and oranges in the autumn!

As for the newest vines to be planted, it will be simply a matter of keeping them well fed and protected from the ravenous rabbits, deer and snails!

Michael Calderbank pictured on left, helping with the training of the new vines in their first year.

More Available for Sale at our Shop
Our new shop is now open.  We are selling a small selection of wine from other English Vineyards (Tiltridge, Somborne, Camel Valley, Stanlake) too, which means that we will be offering a full range of English wines - from red, rosé, to white, from sparkling to still, and from dry to medium! We have also  printed special Bothy Vineyard tee shirts made from high quality cotton for those who wish to remember their visit after they have finished their wine.

You will also be able to get your own copy of the new published Map of English and Welsh Vineyards for free, and purchase the 2008 Local Food Guide.  We also hope to hold a small stock of the new lavishly illustrated coffee table book on UK vineyards, "Grape Britain", written by David Harvey who actually helps us out from time to time!  For more information about "Grape Britain" visit our events page;

The Bothy now contains our new shop and here it is (above right), stocked up with wine.  The front door has a sloping step which means that wheelchairs can access the shop. 

Written April 2008