3:38pm Thursday 5th October 2006
BROADFIELD Court Estate, home of Bodenham English Wines, is expecting a bumper grape harvest this year of up to 30 tonnes, double last year's harvest.
Herefordshire's largest vineyard nestled amongst the rolling hills in the north of the county covers 13 acres of the 1,012-acre estate. Its south facing slopes are ideal for viticulture and this year has proved to be no exception. Indeed, the climate in the vineyard has more often resembled the Mediterranean this year than The Marches. The dry hot summer has led to early ripening and high sugar levels, so picking has started earlier than usual in late September.
The good year began in June when the vines were in flower as dry sunny days set the flowers (heavy rain or frost can damage the flowers) and the hot weather that followed in July continued to develop the grapes apace. By mid-September, sugar levels were high enough in the Madeleine Angevine to pick them, followed a week later by the Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe (all white grape varieties). Normally the grapes are picked around the second week in October.
The remaining varieties, including the Pinot Noir and the Seyval Blanc (the sparkling wine grape), will be picked last but still earlier that usual. The Seyval, in particular, are showing massive abundance.
Wines have been made and sold by Broadfield Court for over 30 years. A dairy and arable farming estate, it has diversified in recent years to include conferencing, outdoor corporate activities and training, and has a wine shop and caf open to the public daily.
Broadfield's proprietor, Mark James, has had to recruit in seasonal workers from Poland to help with the picking rush as once the grapes are ripe they need to be picked immediately to avoid spoilage and to ensure best juice quality for wine-making.
Alexandra James said: "The vineyard creates an atmosphere this time of year of all the good and simple things in life amongst people, food and drink."
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