There’s been plenty going on at Biddenden since our last update, with the fruit having set well and now developing on vine across all 11 varieties. It’s also a constant job keeping up with all of the maintenance needed throughout the vineyard, including trimming shoots by machine, leaf stripping and thinning by hand and keeping on top making sure the rows and Self-Guided Tour route are clear and tidy. This is as well as keeping a very close eye on the grapes to ensure they are kept healthy and free from disease, something which can be tricky with the warm & wet weather we have had, but with our many years of experience we are able to pick up early and do our best to prevent any issues that may affect the harvest.
We’ve already seen the first signs of veraison – when the grapes begin to change colour – in the Gamay Noir and those visiting will certainly be able to spot our red varieties such as Pinot Noir and Dornfelder following suit and beginning to turn to more autumnal tones both in the grapes and the leaves. September is always a fantastic time to visit, not only as there is the chance to see the grapes just prior to harvest, but also for the colourful displays as the leaves turn to tones of red, orange and yellow. There’s still a few Private Guided Tour spaces available for small groups of up to 6 before we reach the end of the season, so if you are planning to visit, it’s best to get booked in for September now!
We have been so grateful for the support received since launching our Self-Guided Tours and tastings in May and our guides have loved showing around their Private Tour groups too, so a big thank you to all who have visited. Our Vineyard Shop remains open throughout the year, so you can always stop in and stock up on your favourite Biddenden wines, ciders & juices – find our current opening times here.
We also have some exciting news coming very soon about the release of our final wine from the 2018 vintage – produced using a select parcel of vines, we feel this wine has captured all that was great about the 2018 vintage and our signature variety, Ortega. It’s a wine that we are extremely proud of and we cannot wait to be able to tell you more. To be the first to find out about this very special wine, make sure you are signed up to our mailing list and keep an eye on your inboxes at the start of September.
– Tom
