2023 Harvest
Photograph by Orlando Gili
Harvest Lunch - instead of the busy volunteer pickers enthusiastically snipping bunches in the vineyard, we find them all enjoying an extended lunch in the Autumn sunshine – the lucky buggers!
We picked all the Seyval Blanc grapes on the weekend of 21st & 22nd October, as I had forecast. Many UK vineyards started earlier and had already completed. The Champagne varieties were picked on the following weekend, 28th & 29th of October. The weather was unpredictable, very heavy rainfall and high winds, when we might have abandoned picking altogether! But luckily, on Sunday 22nd we had brilliant sunshine!
Many English vineyards had suffered mildews this year with a considerable loss of leaf, and because of this the Meunier (the worst affected) were not picked. We harvested about 6000 bottles of Seyval Blanc and 3500 bottles of Chardonnay/Pinot Noir.
Photograph by Orlando Gili
It takes all sorts, and here’s a wonderful picture of Jeremy Pellatt - a devoted harvester for many years, who walks for miles over the Downs to get to Breaky Bottom, come rain or shine. He is, among many other loyal pickers, an essential part of Breaky Bottom’s success – our grateful thanks to one and all…
Release of the 2018 vintage
In my August Notes I mentioned my excitement, anticipating the release of the three wines from 2018. I want to emphasise that of all the vintages over decades, this year was without doubt the best season I have ever experienced. I know that this is also the case for many vineyards in the UK – it was the perfect year!
After four years on the lees wines begin to show their true colours. With the exceptional high yield this was the only year with sufficient Pinots to allow me to make our first Blanc de Noirs. It was also the only year that I have ever made a Blanc de Blanc with 100% Chardonnay – so a double first! I welcome, with all the readers who enjoy Breaky Bottom wines, the excitement of monitoring their continued development in time to come.
