Cherry Constable of Vine Works looks at harvest preparations.

The wet weather, rationed armoury – and limited opportunity to use it – have created the perfect storm for downy mildew. Vineyard speaks to some of the experts for their tips on tackling this fungus-like disease with its potential to cause significant crop losses.  

Harmony and contrast are the juxtaposition of Squerryes ancestral estate with its modern and contemporary brand subtly creating places where people can connect with the wines, with fine dining and with events. Vineyard discovers how the spirit of the family motto ‘Licet Esse Beatis’, meaning ‘It is permitted to be joyful’ is at the heart of everything encountered at Squerryes. 

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The July editor’s column in Vineyard alluded to a wine estate that is poised to shake the UK’s future with its visionary still wines. Situated in probably the most exciting viticultural region of the country, Danbury Ridge Wine Estate in Essex is already astonishing the wine world with its newly released Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vintages – stealing the spotlight from the celebrated regions of Burgundy, Oregon and New Zealand – putting Essex, and the UK, firmly on the world stage with these noble varieties. 

The 2021 planting season was a big one for Vine-Works Ltd. There have been a lot of ‘firsts’ for the business. Vineyards in far flung locations across the UK, record year, vine deliveries in December, post-Brexit vine importing, UK plant passports and the first year ever that Vine-Works has run two planting teams.

The Wiston Estate has enjoyed considerable success in recent years. Vineyard spoke to one of the founders to hear how it has achieved so much in such a short time.

PIWI is a German abbreviation for Pilzwiderstandsfähig – which essentially means fungal resistant. These grape varieties have been bred and selected to have a high resistance to fungal diseases, so reducing the cost of inputs. Vineyard finds out why these innovative grape varieties have an important future in UK wine production. 

Innovative technologies to enable precision viticulture and enhance production are not futuristic notions, they are soon to be upon us, as the latest research in data-driven production spreads fast through agriculture and viticulture.  Vineyard finds out how these advances will aid efficiency and provide a competitive edge to vineyard businesses.