Month: January 2011

PRUNING AT HUSH HEATH

The vines are being left with extra canes which will be cut off after the risk of frost has passed.

Dithering and keen the winter comes,

While comfort flies to close-shut rooms

And sees the snow in feathers pass

Winnowing by the window-glass,

Whilst unfelt tempests howl and beat

Above his head in chimney-seat.

Now musing o’er the changing scene,

Farmers behind the tavern-screen

Collect – with elbow idly pressed

On hob reclines the corners’s guest,

Reading the news, to mark again

The bankrupt lists or price of grain,

Or old Moore’s annual prophecies

Of flooded fields and clouded skies,

Whose Almanac’s thumbed pages swarm

With frost and snow and many a storm,

And wisdom gossiped from the stars,

Of politics and bloody wars.

He shakes his head and still proceeds,

Nor doubts the truth of what he reads:

All wonders are with faith supplied-

Bible at once and weather-guide.

Puffing the while his red-tipped pipe,

He dreams o’er troubles nearly ripe;

Yet not quite lost in profit’s way

He’ll turn to next year’s harvest-day,

And, winter’s leisure to regale,

Hope better times and – sip his ale.

JOHN  CLARE – from The Shepard’s Calendar   1827

The ground is being prepared for new plantings at Nutbourne Vineyard in Sussex and Hush Heath in Kent .  

Nutbourne have removed some poorly performing GDC vines, approximately 1.5 ha of vines are being replaced. Bacchus, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc will be planted for quality still wine production . 2 ha of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay  will come on steam in 2012.

Hush Heath will add another 7 acres to the existing 11 at Marden, 10 acres planted at Sandhurst will take the area under vine for Balfour to 28 acres .It is planned to move production up from 30,000 bottles in 2010 to 100,000 in 2012. 

A number of different Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meurnier clones are being planted on a selection of rootstock . In addition 120 vines each of Arbane, Petite Mesilier and Pinot Blanc are being planted .