We just hope that the fruit comes in as clean and disease free as in previous years. The recent rains have added to our stress levels, but it still looks good. However, we could have done with a bit more sun rather than the recent rain!
Overall, we expect to pick close to 500 tonnes of grapes this year. Our proximity to the sea helps dry out the grapes and reduce any disease pressure. The birds have been kept off by nets and the badgers have been kept away by an electric fence. The 500 tonnes of fruit will translate into a little over 400,000 bottles of ‘Sussex Sparkling’ wine. So, we’re very excited.
Long days, early starts and late nights lie ahead for the team at Rathfinny. But it’s all worth it when you pop the cork and taste the wines. Sadly, we’ll have to wait another four years before the wines made from the 2019 harvest will be released, as this ‘Traditional’ or ‘Champagne Method’ wine and will spend three years in the bottle, in a temperature-controlled cellar, before it’s released onto the market.
Luckily, you can sample our wines from 2015 and 2016 in some of the best hotels in London, Hong Kong and across England and our Magnums of 2016 Rosé will go on sale at Harrods in November.
Here’s cheers to a great harvest in England in 2019!
**Please note that the Tasting Room is shut during harvest but you may have heard that the Flint Barns will open for lunch and Cellar Door and we have new opening hours for the Tasting Room restaurant and Flint Barns from November.
