It really does feel like Spring in the vineyard because we’ve had a warm and dry spell even though it’s only March. Which is nice but when it comes to ideal conditions for the vines at this time of year, then this very dry spell probably isn’t, ideal that is. We haven’t been up to the vineyard, what with one thing and another, so when we go up this weekend we will get some idea of just how dry the ground is and whether we need to water the vines. That’s what we’ve had to do the last two years when it’s been unseasonably dry.
I said in my last vineyard blog that I hadn’t made my mind up about buying replacement vines. My supplier suggested he had some small numbers for sale and that was enough encouragement for me to buy 50 more. Which means getting my man up there to dig fifty holes. Hopefully although he is, like us a year older (although he’s over eighty now) he won’t mind the task.
We’ve bought 25 Seyval Blanc which we’ve had before and they haven’t done very well. So it’s either a brave or foolish choice and, where our vineyard is concerned, I’m not sure there’s much difference. And also 25 vines with the name Prior which I have to admit I’ve never heard of but my vine supplier thinks they might do well in our location. Not for nothing do we describe ourselves as an experimental vineyard. One day future viticulturists will thank me for my experimental work. Pity I won’t be around to receive their thanks.
Also when we get up there we need to finish off pruning those vines we’re going to prune (which won’t be all of them). As is becoming the norm, our pruning is spread out over several months but if you call yourself experimental you can get away with anything if you can remember which vines you pruned and when.
The other task, to be carried out shortly, is winter fertilising and if we don’t get a move on it won’t qualify as winter at all, in fact I don’t think it does now. Blame our agronomist for this late application. He suggested leaving later than usual so that the fertiliser doesn’t leach out into the soil. Who are we to disagree? And yes, jobs to be done.
In the last couple of weeks I had an email from Ian at Laurel Vines over in East Yorkshire and chairperson of the local association and the organiser of the Yorkshire Wine Trail. I wrote in blog 77 and 78 that I was slightly nervous about being a part of this promotional strategy as we aren’t a commercial vineyard and everybody else is. I needn’t have worried because we’re not a part of it even though it was suggested by other members that we should be and I thought we were going to be.
I can’t say I wasn’t a bit relieved but I was annoyed that they led me to believe I was on the trail and then didn’t bother to tell me that I wasn’t. So I’d struck Ian off my Christmas card list and therefore didn’t particularly welcome his enquiry about a) would we be attending the waffle-n-walk event? I don’t know what that is so it was easy to say no. And b) what were my thoughts about advertising and engaging people in the Yorkshire Wine Trail.
I didn’t reply to his email which was a bit churlish, but I don’t suppose for one minute they’ll miss me or my thoughts. Anyway I have a feeling that when we get up to the barn / vineyard on Friday (that’s today for you) there will be plenty to occupy us without dreaming about the world of Yorkshire wine.
Vineyard 87 summary
So yes, watch this space. By the time I post the next vineyard blog in about a month’s time I shall have an idea of which vines are budding and therefore which vines have survived the winter (it’s not been a bad winter even up the dale but that doesn’t seem to correlate with what lives and dies in our vineyard and hence have I over- or under-ordered with my new replacement vines. Exciting times I think you will agree.