BobsBuzz

Year 4 – August 2014

A Dream fulfilled:

Big Buzz!  Boutique Vineyard is it’s genre; and some background information.

Gaining the knowledge:

The pleasure of learning anew is stimulating and refreshing. ‘Wineskills’ through Plumpton Agricultural College have been invaluable in building knowledge from planting and training, nutrition and pruning through to winemaking.  Membership of the UK Vineyards Association and South East Vineyards Association and the forum are an education in themselves with help is always at hand.

I am grateful to my mentor, Jonica Fox of Hobdens Vineyard, Mayfield for so much helpful advise.

Location and soil type:

Our half acre vineyard (0.2 hectares), slopes  gently to the south east in a combe under the escarpment of the South Downs on the west side of Eastbourne about a mile from the sea and 55 metres above sea level. The soil is flinty loam overlying chalk and has a high Ph value.  The chalk horizon varies from 450mm below ground at the north end and 1.8m at the south. The terroir is similar to that in the Champagne region of France.

Climate:

Whilst Eastbourne boasts the highest sunshine hours in the UK  and enjoys a micro climate, the coastal cooling influence holds down temperatures slightly compared with inland sites and thus our grapes mature later in the season. Conversely winters are milder and frost rare.

Grape Varieties:

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Bacchus grafted onto fercal rootstock due to the high Ph. Each will produce still table wine and Pinot Noir / Chardonnay a blend for sparkling wine.

Planting:

Row spacing 2m and planting interval 1.2m with chestnut  trellising arranged for single or double guyot training. The vineyard was planted on the wedding day of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – 29 April 2011. Planting was a family affair with my friend, Ian Hunt, Ian and Sandy,my younger son and his wife and grandson Richard. A long dry spell followed and to ensure roots development during the first season, each vine  was given 4 litres of water twice a week .