Vineyard set for a bumper vintage

Kerry Vale Vineyard, located on the border past Montgomery, is reporting that the combination of heatwaves and rainfall this summer has been incredibly beneficial for their vines, with a bumper crop expected.

According to figures from the Met Office, the UK experienced record-breaking temperatures in June, making it one of the top 10 warmest summers on record. Despite the unsettled weather in July and August, local vineyards could potentially enjoy an exceptionally productive harvest in 2023.

Kerry Vale Vineyard expects a high yield across the three grape varieties they cultivate. Nadine Roach, spokesperson for the vineyard, said: “We had a fantastic flowering season in June, which was further enhanced by the rain in July. As it stands, it appears that we are on track for a remarkable harvest in terms of both quality and quantity.”

However, Nadine also emphasized the importance of favourable weather conditions in the upcoming weeks.

Excessive rainfall could potentially harm crops susceptible to mildew, so they are hoping for the right balance of sun, wind and rain. Ideally, they desire dry, breezy, sunny days with gentle overnight rain until the end of the month.

The future weather forecast appears promising, but it is still too early to start celebrating. The weather during the harvest period will ultimately determine the final outcome. 

During this time of year, the vineyard continuously monitors sugar levels. Once these are sufficiently high with the right balance of acid, they will begin picking the grapes. They anticipate that this year’s first day of harvest will be on September 26.

Kerry Vale Vineyard grows four grape varieties: Rondo, Phoenix, Solaris, and Pinot Noir.

The business does vineyard tours on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from May to September. It is also open to the public from Wednesdays to Sundays and admission is free.

The vineyard boasts an award-winning coffee shop that serves homemade food, cakes, and, of course, wine!

They also have a shop where you can sample and purchase their award-winning wines, as well as other locally made artisan produce and gifts.

You can also get involved in helping them bring in the harvest, to find out more visit www.kerryvalevineyard.co.uk.