The forecast was dry but cold. We’d decided on lunch in the barn. But hey it was WARM, and sunny, and beautiful. A sunshade-on-the-grape-trailer harvest.  A full set of pictures in the gallery, HERE>> and a video of the grape-crushing HERE>>

It hasn’t been the easiest growing year. An early, warm spring, a late frost, a cold flowering and a none-too-warm ripening. The Kernling rose above it all, literally in the case of the frost. Set its fruit brilliantly in the cool July. The bunches were smaller than last year, and we thinned the shoots and the fruit on the cooler lower block mercilessly to get the ripening up with the top. Which worked beautifully thanks to the hot spell at the turn of September. The pickers were selective to make sure we only had the ripest.  The crop added up to 80% of the last year’s yield and the grapes were a picture. Lovely quality. Delighted with that in the circs.  

After the Kernling we picked the late Madeleine grapes from shoots that re-grew after the 4th May frost. Tricky picking and the crew were tired and hungry too. Small bunches twisted around lots of small shoots and some of them very low to the ground. But everyone stuck to it heroically and we finished at 3pm.

A glass of celebratory fizz and everyone was ready for lunch in the stone-pillared barn - Iain’s courgette terrine slice served on a vine leaf with home made bread plaits, pork in cider with celeriac mash and a brilliant (I can say it, Iain made it) Blenheim Orange French-style apple tart.

The Kernling juice pressed out sweet  enough (82 Oechsle) that the wine won’t need chaptalising. There’s enough natural sugar to reach 11% + alcohol. Kernling acid is always high, it was around 11 g/l this year, a little higher than perfect but OK.

The Madeleine were definitely worth the effort - nearly as sweet as the Kernling and in great condition. Acid on the low side though, and less than a press-full, just shy of half a ton. After cogitating with winemaker Steve we’ve put all the juice together. The lower acid of the Mad’ll help balance the Kernling. The wine should resemble our 2007, a similar varietal mix from a similar year weatherwise. The Madeleine that we picked back in mid-September we hope will make a classic if small vintage of “Jane’s.

Many thanks, pickers, brilliant job. And Matthew who loaded single-handed. And Sim who couldn’t make it Sunday but helped us clean the barn. And Ev from Paris who weeded and swept the yard, got the table ready and heroically cleared up the kitchen.  And Farmer John for the loan of the big trailer. And Chris and Lesley, for putting the party tent together again. And Steve and Peter, for unloading, de-stemming and pressing (now it’s over to you guys). What a team, we’re so lucky.

We’re all cleared up now, and today saw a hasty apple, pear, quince, squash and tomato harvest before tonight’s forecast frost. Safely stashed in the barn now. Pic on the Home page.