Sussex and Hampshire
Bolney Wine Estate, West Sussex – Sam Linter, owner and winemaker: “This year’s harvest is looking phenomenal for Bolney, in terms of quality and quantity, seeing an increase of 83% in yield of bottles produced. This seems similar countrywide”.
Davenport (Organic) Vineyards, East Sussex – Will Davenport, winemaker: “We have had a massive harvest – our biggest ever by a fair distance, with an average of over 3 tonnes per acre and almost no rot or mildew (we are organic and have only applied six sulphur sprays this year). Sugars are looking good and acids are just right. We have some fermenting tanks that are showing fantastic flavours.”
Ridgeview Wine Estate, East Sussex:
Last day harvesting our Ridgeview home Chardonnay, 23 year old vines. To quote our Vineyard Manager Matt Strugnell: “Honestly hand on heart, no BS, this is the best crop I’ve ever seen. Phenomenal!” @Strugz #EnglishSparklingWine @Wine_GB @SussexWineries #vintage2018 pic.twitter.com/HOfpE9Oewm
— Ridgeview Wine (@RidgeviewWineUK) September 29, 2018
Hattingley Valley Vineyards, Hampshire – Simon Robinson, owner (and Chairman of WineGB): “The ideal growing conditions we have enjoyed have led to this being a fantastic year for us, with almost all our suppliers delivering record yields. We pressed around 180 tonnes in 2017 but this year will probably be 650-700 tonnes when we have finished. Encouragingly, the hot sunny weather also means the quality of the grapes is excellent with high sugars, good acids and virtually no disease.”
Nyetimber, West Sussex, Brad Greatrix, winemaker:
As an indicator of the handicap that spring frosts and poor flowering impose on English growers: Our ’18 harvest (frost-free and great flowering) might end up within 10% of the total yield from 2015-2017 combined.
— Brad Greatrix (@GreatrixBrad) October 7, 2018
Hambledon Vineyard, Hampshire:
