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Editorial Contributors:Joanna WoodDuncan McNeillJulian SearleSimon StannardGeoff TaylorScott RaffleRob Saunders

Advertising Manager:Sophia Wright

Publisher:John R. Jarrett

The Yearbook and its contents are thecopyright of ACT Publishing

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy andreliability of material published, the publishers and their agentscan accept no responsibility for claims or opinions expressed

by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers

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The Vine Growers Yearbook is published annually by

I.S.S.N. No 2052-6008Annual subscription £25.00

CONTENTS2016 Overiew 4

Statistics 7

Undervine soil cultivation 11

Moths and UK vineyards 14

Practical winery tips 18

Barnsole vineyard visit 23

Rathfinny Estate visit 26

Vine nutrition 29

Viticultural research 34

Dates for your diary 35

An eventful year for UK wine 36

Profiling wines 39

Spotted wing drosophila 41

Successful crop protection 45

BUYERS GUIDE

Products & Services 49

Addresses & Contacts 54

3

This 4th edition of the Yearbook is againaimed at both those who are planning toenter the wonderful world of grapegrowing and those who already knowsomething of the joys and frustrations ofowning a vineyard in England or Walesbut would like to widen their knowledge.We’ve asked well-known specialists tocover wide ranging subjects from vinenutrition to avoiding wine faults and hopethat the Buyers Guide will help you findjust the right supplier.

Cover picture: The Gusbourne Estate,Appledore, Kent

Joanna is a specialist technical journalist,who reports mainly on the UK fruit industry.She has maintained a continuing interest inviticulture since holding the post of ADASNational Vine Consultant in the 1980’s andis a regular contributor to our sister title,‘The Fruit Grower’.

In the year when the UK wine industrysteps onto the international stage by

hosting the International Cool Climate WineSymposium, it is timely to emphasise thebreath-taking progress and level ofinvestment made over the last decade. Notonly has the area of vines doubled to over2,000 hectares but major investments in‘mega’ wine estates and state of the artwineries have completely changed theperception of the industry.

The extraordinary success of Englishsparkling wines in international winecompetitions in the last 16 years isunprecedented. It has fuelled the race tofind suitable vineyard sites with shelteredsouth facing slopes and chalky soils insouthern England. The fact that the growingseason temperature (GST) has consistentlybeen above the 13 degree C cool climateviticulture threshold since 1993, has alsofed this renewed optimism. The completechange in emphasis from still to sparklingwine production using traditionalChampagne classic vine varieties leads totwo questions. Is it too late to jump on thesparkling wine band wagon and is there anyfuture for still wine in the UK?

Stephen Skelton writing in the GrapePress (March 2016) about the plan byFrench Champagne house, Taittinger, andother investors to establish a 28 hectarevineyard and winery in Kent to produceEnglish fizz says, “I believe, in time, it will be

seen as something of a turning point in UKsparkling wine production. It will undoubtedlyhelp lift the reputation and interest in Englishsparkling wine which will help all UK growersand producers.”

It’s notable that the recent hugeinvestments have been made by people withsuccessful careers in other fields — and verylarge funds to invest. Good examples of thistrend are Mark and Sarah Driver ofRathfinny Estate, ex-hedge fund managerand lawyer respectively, who startedplanting in 2012. They admit to having spentmore than £10m so far. Read an update ontheir progress on page 26.

Still wine production continues to be agood option for those with a flair for cellardoor sales and wine tourism. A profile of thenew owners of Kent vineyard Barnsole, Philland Sally Watts on page 23 underlines thehard work and dedication required to run asuccessful and profitable small vineyard.

Practical winery advice (page 18) fromJulian Barnes at Biddenden Vineyard, wherethe brand has been built on the reputation of

2016OVERVIEW

4 www.hortnews.co.uk Vine Growers Yearbook

UK wine steps on to theinternational stage by Joanna Wood

Joanna Wood

their Ortega wine, gives an excellent modelfor medium sized vineyard businesses whichoffer visitors an authentic experience of afamily run enterprise.

A lot of sparkling wine is due to hit themarket in the next few years since it takesat least three years before vines produce acrop, and then another three while the wineages in bottle and investors will need deeppockets to wait for profitability. FrazerThompson, chief executive of Chapel Down,one of the biggest producers of English fizz,was quoted in a recent Jancis Robinsonarticle in the Financial Times observing that“Wine is patience and people with capitaltend not to have it.” He adds, “Margins areextremely good at the end of the cycle, andmature businesses like ours took the painmany years ago.”

Inevitably, the crucial question is whatprice consumers will pay for English fizz?English Wine Producers say that, based onplantings over the last 8 years, sparklingwine becoming releasable in the next threeyears is likely to be over 5 million bottles(Champagne shipments to the UK for 2015were 34.2 million bottles). Jancis Robinsonasks “As production volumes increase, willEnglish producers be able to maintain thecurrent average price of £25 to £30 abottle?” Some are perhaps over optimisticwhilst others take a pragmatic view. FrazerThompson reckons the future of ChapelDown lies in selling 200,000 bottles of anon-vintage blend a year at £15 to £20.

The recent dramatic expansion of theindustry has led to much optimism for theexport potential of English fizz. This in turnhas attracted attention from politicians.Secretary of State for the Environment LizTruss MP has shown great interest, and inMarch chaired the first ever UKGovernment and English Wine Round Table.Simon Stannard from the Wine and SpiritTrade Association reports (page 36) thatthe event centred on the enormouspotential for the sector to grow and howGovernment and industry can work inpartnership to fulfil that potential.

The idea of climate change turning the UKinto a viable wine-making region may haveboosted the industry in recent years,however cold snaps, sharp frosts anddownpours threaten productivity –according to University of East Anglia (UEA)research. Thanks to the capricious climate,English grape harvests vary enormously.Avoiding costly cultural mistakes are vitaland much excellent advice on growing andtending vines from consultant DuncanNcNeil (page 11) and agronomists JulianSearle and Rob Saunders (pages 29 and45) can be found in this edition. Climatechange is also a factor in the threat fromnew insect pests like grape moths (page 14)and SWD (page 41).

Much is set fair for an exciting nextdecade or two for English Viticulture. Wecan all drink to that! ■

2016OVERVIEW


Growing season average temperatures (GST) ( –) and growing season precipitation (–) for south-east andsouth-central UK (1954-2013) with imposed linear trends for GST (–) and precipitation (–).Source: Nesbitt et al (2016) UEA

The area of vineyards is the highest ever in theUK, and it has doubled in the last 7 years. In

the last 10 years hectarage has increased byover 140%. Vineyard numbers have alsoincreased. However, with the explosion inplanting of new vineyards in the past ten years,the collection of accurate statistics in the UKhas lagged far behind reality.

Since 1989 when vineyard surveys becamecompulsory and more recently when the WineStandards branch (WSB) ofthe Food Standards Agency(FSA) became responsible forthe Vineyard Register in theUK, there have been recordsof all vineyards known to itsInspectors but this has not ledto comprehensive figures.

According to respectedviticultural consultant StephenSkelton MW, there are about670 vineyard businessescovering between 2,200 and2,250 hectares withcommercially planted vines.More major plantings areplanned this year and for thenext few years, demonstratingthat planting is still goingahead at a pace.

Vineyard size andlocation

According to the officialgovernment statistics fromWSB, for the 2015 wine yearthere were 473 commercialvineyards (comprising 131wine producers) in England

and Wales. Commercial vineyards are sub-divided into growers without wine makingfacilities and 131 wineries which make winefrom their own production and from grapesprocessed under contract or bought from othervineyards locally or from further afield.

The distribution of vineyards is skewed to thesoutheast of England with almost 70% in thesouthern and eastern counties: West and EastSussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, and Essex.

INDUSTRYSTATISTICS

7www.hortnews.co.uk Vine Growers Yearbook

Industry statisics & productioninformation by Joanna Wood

INDUSTRYSTATISTICS

According to the WSB figures, there areapproximately 1,071 hectares under vine in theSouth East: Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey,Kent, and Sussex. There are a further 271hectares under vine in the South West: Cornwall,Devon, Dorset, Somerset Wiltshire andGloucestershire.

The county of West Sussex contains thelargest area under vine with approximately 258hectares, followed by Kent with 238.34 hectaresand Hampshire with 238 hectares. Vineyardsalso extend into Essex and East Anglia, theMidlands, with some even further north, and intoWales which has around 40 hectares. The totalarea under vine in the UK including hobby andabandoned vineyards is approximately 1,812.94hectares, although not all of this is in production.WSB says that the productive area for the 2015harvest is estimated to be approximately1,653.84 hectares

The most northerly commercial vineyard isRyedale Vineyards, nr, York and the mostlysoutherly are in the Channel Islands. Hobbyvineyards stretch as far north as the Isle ofLewis, Scotland. A full list of commercial

vineyards is available on the DEFRA FSA website.Stephen Skelton’s guide to UK vineyards, firstpublished in 1989, has been completely updatedand published in April 2016.

Although most vineyards are small,approximately 112 vineyards are over 4ha –about 70% of the total area planted, with adozen or so being over 20 ha. The largest singlevineyard at present is the Denbies Wine Estate,Dorking, Surrey with 106ha (265 acres) and thelargest estate spread over sites in West Sussexand Hampshire is Nyetimber with approximately177ha and more land recently purchased forfurther expansion. The Rathfinny Estate,Alfriston, Sussex has so far planted 72 hectares(180 acres) of vines with 60 ha more planned.

Vine varietiesUp until the mid-1980s, most UK vineyards

were planted with a selection of German cross-bred varieties, with Müller Thurgau,Reichensteiner, Bacchus and Schönburger beingthe most popular, plus the hardy French-American hybrid, Seyval Blanc. In the lastdecade, a combination of changing consumer

tastes in wine and moreimportantly a slight butfavourable rise in theaverage temperatures hasseen the varietal spectrumundergo seismic changes.Chardonnay and Pinot Noirare now the most popularvarieties, with plantings ofthese two alone increasingby over 230% in the last 8years; together with PinotMeunier and Pinot NoirPrécoce, an earlierripening variant, they nowcover well over half of theplanted area. They aremostly used for the

8 Vine Growers Yearbook www.hortnews.co.uk

The top 15 UK varieties 2015 2014 2013

Chardonnay 353.37 347.06 326.99

Pinot Noir 337.25 323.14 305.22

Bacchus 128.52 126.31 130.79

*Seyval Blanc 88.31 88.46 92.05

Pinot Meunier 76.65 76.06 68.55

Reichensteiner 72.35 73.41 80.49

Rondo (GM 6494/5) 48.24 47.15 47.39

Muller Thurgau 45.94 49.16 55.99

Madeleine Angevine 39.34 39.45 45.87

Ortega 35.48 35.32 34.53

Schonberger 27.83 31.75 34.54

Fruhburgunder (aka as Pinot Noir Precoce) 26.89 21.01 20.24

Regent 26.80 24.57 24.28

Phoenix 24.80 22.53 23.59

Solaris 24.25 not known not known

Top 15 Varieties in UK vineyards area (ha)

Source: WSB November 2015

Pinot Noir Précoce

production of bottle-fermented sparkling wines,estimated to account for 60% of the total UKwine production. For still wines, the majorvarieties are Bacchus, Seyval Blanc,Reichensteiner, Müller-Thurgau, Rondo,Madeleine Angevine, Ortega and Schönburger.

Wine ProductionBritain’s leading wine producers, at a meeting

with the Environment Secretary Elizabeth TrussMP in March this year, predicted an increase inproduction from 5 million bottles per year to upto 10 million bottles by 2020 with an ambition togrow the area of planted vineyards from 2,000hectares to 3,000 hectares by 2020. Themeeting also pledged a tenfold increase inexports by 2020, increasing from 250,000bottles to 2.5 million bottles. In terms of value,this would be an export value increase from £3.2million to over £30 million by 2020.

Reliable annual production figures arecompiled by the WSB from records submitted byall wine producers post-harvest but these are

always at leasta year inarrears.Wineproductionfigures forthe 2014harvestwerereleased bythe WSB inMay 2015and reveal asignificantgrowth involume,breaking allindustryproductionrecords.47,433hectolitres were produced in 2014 - theequivalent of 6.3 million bottles (75cl). This

represents an increase of 42% in volumeover 2013 – itself a record-breaking figureof 4.45million bottles.

Whilst there is currently no officialdetailed breakdown of styles produced,English Wine Producers (EWP) and UnitedKingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA)estimate that at least two-thirds ofproduction is now sparkling wine, pointing toa production level of some 4m bottles ofsparkling wine from the 2014 harvest.Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production ofsparkling wines has increased by nearly150% in the last 5 years and more volumesare now coming on to the market fromestablished producers and new English winebrands. Still wine production also continuesto thrive. Bacchus is the most popular

aromatic grape variety in the UK and hasbeen enjoying a steady growth in plantings

INDUSTRYSTATISTICS


YearHectolitresProduced

Hectares inproduction

2014 47,433 1,505.73

2013 33,384 1,375

2012 7,751 1,297

2011 22,659 1,208

2010 30,346 1,094.5

2009 23,835 945.9

2008 10,068.8 785.2

2007 9,947 697

2006 25,210.14 747

2005 12,806.3 722

2004 18,482 722

UK Wine Production

Source: WSB (2015 figures to bereleased May/June 2016)

Chart below shows changing distribution of dominant (byvolume) vine cultivars (1990-2013) in the UK, as aproportion of total vineyard area.

KEY: (–) Muller Thurgau; (–) Reichensteiner; (–) SeyvalBlanc; (–) Pinot Noir; (–) Chardonnay.

Source: Nesbitt et al (2016) UEA

being the third most widely planted variety.English Wine Producers figures for the

styles of wine produced in the UK areSparkling: 66%, Still White: 24%, Red/Rosé:10%. From the 2010 harvest, sparkling wineproduction exceeded still and the sparklingwine sector continues to grow year on year.Based on plantings over the last 8 years, thesparkling wine becoming releasable in thenext three years is likely to be >5 millionbottles (15% of the volume of Champagneimports), giving this sector a retail salesvalue of some £100 million. In the last 16years* English sparkling wines have won 8Trophies for Best International SparklingWine and 6 Trophies for Best SparklingRose in Global Competitions – no othercountry has achieved this (this is up to 2014results – 2015 trophies have not all yet

been announced). Still wine production is byno means completely finished. Improvementsto climate could mean higher ripeness levelsthan average leading to some classicChampagne varieties being of such qualitythat high quality still wines could be producedfrom them. Fundamentally, any still winesneed to be of excellent quality to sell for thegood prices necessary for a sustainablebusiness not a vanity project. StephenSkelton, in his book Vine Growing in GreatBritain published in 2014, considers that stillwines made from Bacchus are alreadyachieving a good reputation and the bestalready sell for high prices. It is always thecase that vineyards which are open to thepublic, give tastings and sell direct to thepublic will find it easier to sell still wines thanthose who sell them via the trade. ■


AUTHORIZED DEALERsince 1920

NEW TURBO

Phone: [email protected] Farm, Parsonage Lane, LamberhurstTunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8DS

since 1920

INDUSTRYSTATISTICS

*up to and including 2014; 2015 resultswill shortly be confirmed.

Duncan McNeill runs McNeill VineyardManagement Ltd, providing contract

vineyard management and viticulturalconsultancy to vine-growers in Essex, Kent,Sussex and Surrey.

Fact: The approvals of various herbicidesused in viticulture are coming under increasingscrutiny. Further revocations of productapprovals are likely over the coming years.

Fact: The active ingredients in manyherbicides are known to have a negativeimpact on the naturally occurring micro-organisms in the soil. Many of these arebeneficial fungi and bacteria which enable orimprove the uptake of nutrient ions bygrapevine roots.

Fact: Consumers are becoming continuallymore focused on how the food and beveragesthey purchase are grown. There is an everincreasing demand for food to be producedusing more environmentally sustainablemethods.

Fact: Soil is finite. It is among the mostprecious of the earth’s resources. A singlespoonful of soil contains more living organismsthan there are people on our planet. It is ourresponsibility not to contaminate it withchemicals, but to preserve the soil for the foodsecurity of future generations.

UNDERVINE SOILCULTIVATION


Undervine soil cultivation as analternative to herbicide spraying

Available as single or double sided. Very simple androbust design. Serrated disk is driven by theforward motion of the tractor, and rolls on onecentral bearing. The implement is set into the soiland lifted out by hydraulic ram. Working depth is

Created by the disk weeder / finger weedercombination - The result is a weed free strip, with afar less significant mound.

Finger weeder (rear) spreads out the soil which hasbeen cultivated by the disk weeder (front).


What relevance do these facts have for weedcontrol in vineyards?

Over the last ten years there has beenmajor progress made with the engineering ofundervine mechanical weeding implements.

There are now a range of tools available whichoffer a real alternative to herbicide as a meansof weed control in the undervine strip.

The main benefits of undervine cultivationversus herbicide use are:

• Use of the cultivation implements is notdependent on wind speeds. It is far lessrestrictive in this respect.

• The soil is not contaminated withsubstances which harm its ecosystem

• Cultivation by implements closes thecapillaries in the soil profile via whichmoisture evaporates. Stoppingevapotranspiration from the soil via thesecapillaries, significantly improves themoisture supply to the vine. (see later inthis article)

The table above provides a brief overview ofsome of the implements available to UKvinegrowers:


IMPLEMENT HOW IT WORKS DRIVING SPEED

Disk weeder Moves and crumbles the soil, working 8-10 kmh sideways against the planting line.Can leave a ‘mound’ if worked too deep. Not as effective in heavier clay rich soil, if used on its own.

Roller hacker Similar to disk weeder, but does not produce 8-10 kmh as much of a mound AND is more effective in heavier clay soils.

Finger weeder Hardened rubber ‘fingers’ rotate around a 6-10 kmh central bearing. They push the earth away from the vines. Excellent when used in combination with disk weeder or roller hacker – and can be used simultaneously in the same tractor pass.

Intervine harrow Weeding head (often similar to a power 2-4 kmh(various types) harrow tine or a flat cutting blade) driven by tractor hydraulics. Works in between the vines, and is retracted when a sensor bar, also running off hydraulic oil, touches the vine trunk. Very effective at controlling weeds, but tractor speed is slower.

Roller Hacker.

‘Lift-Up Water’ & How Grapevines EnsureWater Supply:

The grapevine root system is able to accesswater at great depths below the soil surface.Soil moisture passes through the vine (out ofthe leaves) via transpiration. Transpirationrates via the leaf vary within millisecondsdepending on sunshine / cloud cover.Although the vine can access deep water, itcannot vary the supply of moisture from depth

(3m and deeper) as quickly as the changes insun exposure / cloud cover demand. To solvethis the roots draw up moisture at night time,from deep in the profile, and then store it inthe upper root zone (0-30cm) for use duringthe following day. By this process, the rootscan supply the vine with its continuallychanging demand for moisture, made by the

process of transpiration. This moisture, storedovernight in the upper soil profile, is known as‘lift-up water’.

The area of the soil profile where the rootsstore ‘lift-up water’ (0-30cm) is extremelyprone to drying out – due to:

1. Moisture evaporation through the soilcapillaries

2. Moisture uptake by the roots of weedspresent in this part of the soil profile

Soil moisture loss through the soil capillariesis very significant. Cultivating the soil in theundervine area closes off the soil capillaries inthe upper soil profile, thus drastically reducingthe rate of evaporation. Controlling weeds viaherbicide spraying allows these capillaries toremain intact, resulting in significant moistureloss - even if weeds are controlled. ■



Boisellet intervine cultivator.

Rinieri Intervine Cultivator.

The above picture taken during summer 2015,Mosel, Germany.Left: Undervine area is cultivatedRight: Control row - no cultivation. Spring herbicidewas applied.The non cultivated row is showing drought stresscompared to cultivated row – due to the loss of ‘lift-up water’ from the upper 30cm of the soil profile.The inferior leaf condition results in lower rates ofphotosynthesis. This causes inferior vine functions,including fruit bud development (yield) and fruitripening (quality).

MOTHS &UK VINEYARDS

New pests becoming established onour shores can be blamed on

climate change but often it is human tradethat has helped the invasion as much asnatural spread. Moth pests of grape vines inthe UK have been a neglected issue butwith warming climatic conditions and therecent rise in vineyard plantings, growersneed to be aware of three moth specieswhich could cause economic damage.

Michelle Fountain at NIAB EMR, thepremier fruit research station at EastMalling in Kent, has produced a detaileddescription of all three based on informationfrom UK Moths.

Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyaspostvittana) – or LBAM for short.

This originally Australian species wasprobably accidentally introduced intoCornwall in the 1930’s and since then hasspread quickly northwards, and is now aregular in many parts, and very common insome areas. Damage isseen as grazing on theleaves and fruits often withwebbing of leaves to fruits.The sex pheromone for thisspecies has been identifiedand synthesised, and is nowbeing used routinely tomonitor the moth inhorticultural crops. Giventhat monitoring and controlis relatively straightforward, it is unlikely tobecome a challenging pestin the future, but it isadvisable for vine growersto monitor the pest weekly

so that they can predict population sizesand then the possibility of damage.

There are two other potential mothspecies of interest to grape growers:

Grape berry moth (Eupoecilliaambiguella) In Britain, this is quite a scarcespecies occurring locally in the south eastof England and south Wales. On theContinent it can be quite common and apest species where it feeds on grape vine.

European Vine Moth (Lobesia botrana)This European species is known as a pest ofvineyards in its native region of SouthernEurope and North Africa, the larvae feedingon a variety of trees and shrubs, but oftenon the flowers and fruit of grape. In Britain itis a rare immigrant, being first discovered inMiddlesex in July 1976.


Moths and UK vineyards

Trapview – An automated monitoringsystem for moth activity in UK Vineyards.

For the past two seasons a new systemfor monitoring activity of moths in vines hasbeen piloted at a number of vineyards in theSE region. Landseer Limited, a UKHorticultural distributor has been workingwith EFOS, a Slovenian company pioneeringthis new monitoring system, to fine tune itscommercial implementation.

Colin Carter, General Manager LandseerLtd, says that LBAM is already present inmany South East vineyards, and it is likelythat moth infestations will become morefrequent with the increasing planted areaand favourable climatic conditions in the UK.The potential risk from migratory specieslike Grape berry moth and Europeangrapevine moth should also be continuallyassessed. Trapview is an automated pest

monitoring system that transmits dailycatch data back to a web-based platform,allowing remote monitoring of moth traps.This real-time system can help baseintervention decisions on a greater depth of

MOTHS &UK VINEYARDS


Daily catch images

understanding of the pest dynamic.Trapview enables daily images of mothcatches from the sticky base in a delta trapto be viewed remotely via a web basedplatform (or mobile app).

Through an automatic recognitionfeature, the software calculates daily catchevents and translates them into a graph, asshown in the two web page screen shotsabove.

Colin says, “We have monitored for thepresence of the 3 different species in fourvineyards in the South East. Only LightBrown Apple Moth has been common to all,with one site also having a presence ofGrape berry moth”. One of the trial sites isat Rathfinny Estate which, with its positionso close to the English Channel, is anexcellent site to give early warnings ofmigratory species to vineyards inland inSussex and further afield.

With the intensification of vine plantings, itis probable that the threat from caterpillardamage will increase, so consistentmonitoring will become ever more critical,not only to safeguard yields but also preventfungal diseases like Botrytis colonising entrywounds made by caterpillars.

The incidence of Light Brown Apple Mothis now commonplace in the South Eastregion. It has at least two generations ayear, the graph above shows catches fromApril through to December in 2014 – threegenerations. This lengthy period of activitycoupled with the extensive range of hostplants (over 1,000) on which it can survive,indicate its potential threat. Vineyardmanager at Rathfinny, Cameron Roucherhad experience with combating LBAM in hisnative New Zealand and is an advocate formonitoring. He warns that Botrytis may bea secondary problem caused by caterpillarstoo small to notice in the centre of a bunch.You need to monitor to be aware of the risk.

Trapview provides accurate surveillanceseason long, insuring against unexpected


Actual daily catch (brown spikes).

Colin Carter and Cameron Roucher checking set upat Rathfinny – placement is important to ensuresafety for trimming operations.

MOTHS &UK VINEYARDS

infestation of moth flights, but will also helptime the most appropriate crop protectionmeasures, if threshold catches deemintervention is necessary. With minimalmanagement required, (pheromone lurereplacement and sticky base if required),Trapview offers a cost effective, peace ofmind insurance. It also can provide a usefulhistoric record of moth catches.

After a mild winter overwintering adultscan become active early so the trap atRathfinny was deployed this spring in earlyMarch. Colin indicates that catches of 30moths two weeks running warns ofsignificant activity to make an intervention.Timing of any spray application depends ontemperature (the traps include atemperature sensor) and what’s happening

in the vineyard – early shoot growth,flowering and bunch closure are particularlyvulnerable. Cameron considers that iftreatment is necessary Tracer is hisinsecticide of choice. “For an insecticideTracer is fairly soft as it’s a lot moretargeted not affecting other species”.

Colin summarises the advantages ofusing the new technology. “Trapview is areal time site specific monitoring system,which is being introduced into a range ofcrops globally. It enhances Integrated PestManagement (IPM) strategies by improvingthe monitoring of pest activity. Improvedmonitoring with daily actual pest profiling,gives growers better information on whichto base more effective interventionstrategies (or non-intervention)”. ■


MOTHS &UK VINEYARDS

At Biddenden Vineyard, Kent’soriginal commercial vineyard, they

pride themselves on being a family runvineyard with the second and thirdgeneration of the Barnes familymanaging the estate. From the firstBiddenden wine, which was bottledaround 1972-3, production has nowgrown to around 80,000 bottles peryear. The busy winery produces not justan array of award-winning White, Rosé,Red and Sparkling English wines fromthe grapes grown in the 23 acrevineyard but also a range of StrongKentish Ciders and farm pressed appleand pear juices both own label (the

Clearly Juice collection) and for otherclients.

The vineyard is particularly known forOrtega which represents about 50% ofthe production but 11 different grapevarieties are grown on gentle southfacing slopes situated in a shelteredvalley, just outside the picturesqueWealden village of Biddenden. Greateffort is made to ensure that the Estatewines produced are of the highestquality, which is reflected by the numberof awards Biddenden wines have beenawarded over the years.

Julian Barnes, now joined by eldestson Tom, has been making the winesand ciders at Biddenden for over thirtyyears and has a very practical approach.With wife Sally he also runs thebusiness which includes a verysuccessful visitor centre and shop. He isalso hands-on in the vineyard for alloperations and in busy times keen to getout with deliveries to customers all oversouthern England. “We like to work asnear as possible to the end user”, saysJulian, “We are a small family businesswith a good reputation and a goodfollowing”. Chasing supermarkets orusing large scale wholesalers has notbeen the family way.

Choosing and maintaining your winestyle

Although you may have a style in mindwhen you plant a vineyard, Julian thinksyou should be flexible in your approachas the vines mature and you get to knowyour customers’ likes and dislikes. In the


PRACTICALWINERY TIPS

Practical winery tips fromBiddenden Vineyard by Joanna Wood

Julian Barnes in the winery at Biddenden Vineyard

first few years you should continually askyourself two questions: What is yourunique selling point? What are you goingto be known for? Also take intoconsideration how long it will take foryour vines to settle down. At Biddenden,Ortega stood out after some years asthe signature variety best suited to theterroir and customer preference. “Itidentified itself as a wine that would sellover and above others” says Julian.People cannot hide their initial pleasureor displeasure when they taste yourwine according to Julian so whateverthey may say later it is so important to

observe their reaction at a tasting.Feedback from cellar door tastings is animportant part of the education of awinemaker.

At harvest a big advantage forvineyards with their own winery is theability to pick the grapes at the optimumtiming. Biddenden doesn’t possess arefractometer, ripeness is assessed byexperience. Deciding on the optimumpicking date is a combination of walkingaround tasting the grapes, the look ofthe leaves (there is a subtle change inOrtega leaves which Julian and Tomrecognise that tells them to harvest the

grapes) and the past historyof optimum dates for eachvariety. “We can go right upto the edge, have aconsistency of ripeness andpick a variety over three tofour days with a controlledamount of fruit coming intothe press” says Julian. Thereis no need to compromiseand be pressurised by acontract winery to pickaccording to weather orother vineyards’ timetables.For Julian the pressing stageis an incredibly importantpart of the process – how farto go and how much juice totake for what you are tryingto achieve in the finishedwine, leads you to establish aset of principles that matchyour customers’expectations.

In really poor weather yearssaying no to making a wine atany cost may be necessary.For example, Julian says



don’t produce a red wineevery year. If you’ve set alevel of quality then stick withit. However, he has foundthat some customers fail tounderstand that wine is anagricultural product and sois prone to fluctuations insupply. He admits that youdo run the risk of droppingoff a restaurant/pub winelist and not getting back onto it.

“Wine is made in thevineyard not the winery”

Attention to detail is allimportant. “I have alwaysbelieved that you make winein the vineyard, not in the winery.” saysJulian. “Our soil produces especiallygood still wines with good depth, tasteand aroma”. Keeping the grapes clear ofdisease is a major part of the task ofvine growing. Sometimes you can becaught out by using a new variety whichreacts differently. This happened toJulian when he started growingBacchus which developed Botrytisdespite the standard spray programme.

At flowering the next year Julian noticedthat Bacchus flowers had caps whichdid not fall off but got stuck inside thedeveloping bunch and caused diseaseproblems.

A recent purchase of a BerthoudWin’Air Sprayer from machineryspecialist NP Seymour (where anotherBarnes son Sam now works) resulted innoticeable improvements in diseasecontrol last autumn. Their new 1000litre Win’Air replaces an earlier air blast



“Dirt accumulates at the back and the edges”

sprayer and has drop leg booms withadjustable air drive heads. “Shadingfrom the windblast is no longer aproblem so the grapes are gettingeffective coverage”.

Winery designIt is often the mundane or the obvious

which get overlooked when planning awinery. Having enough space for yourplanned production is a matter of askingaround other wineries similar to one youare planning for the realities so youavoid mistakes. Like a domestic kitchenyou can probably never have enoughelectrical sockets. Machines often comewith rather short connection cables. Athree phase electrical supply ispreferable to single phase but may notbe possible if your site is very rural whenthe cost of trenching etc to hook up tothe nearest supply cable may beprohibitive.

Julian admits if he could start again“I’d spend more on the flooring of thewinery”. You spend a lot of time hosingdown the winery floor so correctlevelling to ensure the water drainsaway plus the right drainage system todeal with the dirty water is well worthgetting right at the beginning. It’s verydifficult to retro fit. “You must be able toget a pressurised water jet under allmachinery and for the water to drainaway otherwise dirt accumulates at theback and at the edges”. Winery floorshave to be able to withstand fruit acidwhich really eats into concrete so anacid proof floor finish is essential. Agood mains source of water with goodpressure is also vital.

Equipment – nice or necessary?There are essential items and those

that are either nice to have or justfashionable in Julian’s opinion. With alimited budget he advises to spend themost you can afford on the wine pressand stainless steel tanks. For Julian his30 hl capacity Bucher Vaslin grapepress works well for the whole bunchpressing which is the bulk of hisrequirement and the capacity copeswith peak harvest. “You don’t want to bepressing all night,” observes Julian. “Youneed to cut down on the number ofoperations – five to six pressings a dayis OK but very hard work. I’d rather havemachinery that copes with harvestrather than lots of expensive staff.”

Ordering new tanks well in advance isimportant so learn from previous bestyears. When it becomes clear afavourable year means you’ve grown anunusually large crop, it will probably bethe same all across Europe so gettingahead of the queue for tanks will bedifficult. Julian remembers the 2014crop when it became clear he’d needtwo new tanks for red grapes, “we onlyjust got the tanks in time and onlybecause I collected them fromGermany.”

Fashionable or nice to have equipmentincludes branded picking trays andpossibly selection tables. On a limitedbudget automatic cut off valves andremote controlled pumps can bereplaced with cheaper manual versionsas these are only used for a limitedperiod. ■



The present owners of Barnsole vineyard inEast Kent, Phill and Sally Watts are a

wonderful example of the love affair that manypeople have with owning a small vineyard andproducing English wine. What makes themdifferent and most likely to succeed is theirjoint facility for hard work and determination,topped up by Sally’s new found joy of workingoutside and Phill’s excellent grasp of theeconomics of running a viticultural business.Emotion and love will carry you some way butgrowing vines and making wine is ultimately abusiness and Phill has an encyclopaedic recallof his major costs and a strategic plan for thebusiness looking well into the future.

With an amazing back story this couple havecertainly not gone into viticulture withoutthought. Phill, who lost an eye in a childhoodaccident, admits to having had a hard start inlife but was always hungry for knowledge.Amongst other studies this led him to a wineappreciation evening class where the storybehind Hungary’s Bulls Blood wine fired hisimagination. Meeting Sally, whose ambition tospend time skiing in mountains, took themboth to New Zealand. Here a sign offeringwork at a fork in the road caused them tospend a season working for board and lodgingon a 7 acre vineyard in Hawkes Bay.

Returning home to make their fortune inLondon they spent spare time in Kent nearRamsgate where Sally’s father lived looking fora way into vine growing. Phill put himselfthrough a part time Business degree and thengrowing and wine making training at PlumptonCollege. One day driving down a lane east ofCanterbury they came across BarnsoleVineyard which was started in 1992 by theDanilewicz brothers. Sally had an emotional

reaction to the siting of the vineyard on theedge of the sleepy village of Staple in this veryrural area tucked between the end of theNorth Downs and the area of Kent called theIsle of Thanet which is bounded by the sea onthree sides. It took ten years to persuade thebrothers, who were a retired researchchemist and an accountant, to part withBarnsole but Phill and Sally spent weekendsworking in the vineyard to hone their practicalskills.

The original 3.5 acre vineyard had beenplanted in the spring of 1993 after some 16years of local research and experimentationas to which grape varieties and growingsystem would best suit this area. East Kenthas the advantages of relatively low rain-fall,and being surrounded by sea, enjoys someprotection from frost. The vines were plantedwith a robust wooden post and wire trellis with


BARNSOLEVINEYARD

Barnsole vineyard – small butperfectly formed by Joanna Wood

Phill and Sally Watts - in love with vine growing.

an unusually low fruiting wire on a DoubleGuyot training system. The original treatedwooden posts are still sound but the newplanting in 2012 to complete the full 7 acreshad to be trained using metal posts. Thevarieties chosen: Bacchus, Chardonnay andPinot Noir (Précoce) reflect the couple’sambition to produce sparkling wine, a lighterPinot red and some delicious Bacchus to rivalthe best in England. They have plans to extendthe winery in order to achieve this. A largerbuilding on the site to accommodate visitorsand equipment plus the winery is at thedevelopment stage. All their investments arethoroughly researched and Phill’s grasp of thecost of anything he has bought so far and allthe planned development in the future isunusually detailed and hard headed.

Avoiding the ‘death-zone’With the total area of Barnsole now planted

(Phill and Sally carried out all the recentplanting themselves) ideas for any furtherexpansion are firmly denied as this would putthem into the so-called ‘death zone’ ofvineyards of approx 7 to 15 acres where thevines are too much to tend by anenergetic couple but not extensiveenough to make employing the rightamount of staff economic. To do allthe work themselves both in thevineyard and the winery takes terrificdedication and respect for eachother. Sally describes the last fewyears which are in stark contrast toher indoor office and cateringbackground, as “feeling a bit likeworking on a kibbutz – I never haveany time to be on a computer.” Phillhas been surprised by his wife’s“true grit” to share his artisan life inthe vineyard in all weathers. The onlyholiday they’ve taken in the last few

years was the trip to Germany last summerwith the South East Vineyards Association andthey will be in Brighton for ICCWS in May thisyear.

Buying the right equipment to save labour isessential for any small vineyard. Phill warnsthose planting from scratch to be careful tomake headlands wide enough to have anadequate turning circle at the end of the rowsto allow you to buy a standard affordablevineyard tractor plus any attachments likesprayers. It was a costly mistake made whenBarnsole was first planted and it has takenPhill a long time to find the specialist tractorhe requires to fit the very tight space at theends of the rows. David Sayell has understoodhis problem and found him the AntonioCarraro Italian small tractor he wanted.Another helpful company for new and usefulpieces of kit is Vitifruit Equipment who suppliedhis Stockmayer leaf remover.

Phill is happy to provide a testimonial ifsomething really works for him. A case in pointis the Scare’m bird scaring kite. He employedone unit in the vineyard one month beforeharvest in 2014. He reported to the company;


BARNSOLEVINEYARD

Phill has been surprised by his wife’s “true grit” to share hisartisan life in the vineyard in all weathers.

“To my surprise, most birds disappeared andthe fruit survived intact. The only birds thatwere visible were a pair of kites circling highabove and a daily visit from a marsh harrier.These raptors had all been attracted by yourScare’m kite, further enhancing its effect.Your product proved 100% effective and Istrongly recommend it.”

Forward plansThey’ve already radically changed the

Barnsole label to a sophisticated moderndesign from an old fashioned traditional‘Germanic style’. A recent post from Sally onthe vineyard’s social media page said:“Corking our 2013 English sparkling wine. It’son sale in May 2016.” This is the first of theplanned expansion into sparkling wineproduction which they hope will eventuallytake them to a 10,000 bottles per yearproduction level. They are gambling thatswitching from a still wine winery with all theextra costs and extra space required for

sparkling wine production will pay off. Theaverage 10,000 bottles per year still winecould be achieved from a 30,000 square footwinery. For similar sparkling production they’llneed a 60,000 square foot winery. Upping theprice of their still wines from £6.50 to£8.50/bottle has admittedly halved local salesbut Phill and Sally will be concentrating onselling their sparkling at £20/bottle. Theyintend to expand their vineyard visit experienceto make the vineyard and its story adestination and continue to cash in on theirproximity to the Channel Tunnel which brings inBelgian, Dutch and German tourists as well asencouraging more local wine tours. Barnsolewines are already on wine lists in Belgianrestaurants so there is much more to play for.■


BARNSOLEVINEYARD

The first Barnsole sparkling wine will be on saleMay 2016.

Proven to be a highly effective and successful bird deterrent for your vineyard or orchard.

Much less expensive in time and money than netting.

The large 10 meter pole will keep the Hawk wellabove the crop.

Can be set up and left in the centre of your vineyard/orchard and will independently re-launchevery morning.

www.scarem.co.ukTel. 01992 524991Mobile: 07802 628011 Email: [email protected]

photo courtesy of Oak Hill Vineyard

Late in 2009, Mark Driver gave up hiscareer in the City to pursue not only a

dream but also a hard-headed businessplan to make sparkling wine in England ofcomparable quality and finesse to thegreat sparkling wines of the Champagneregion. He enrolled at Plumpton College,part of the University of Brighton, to studyviticulture.

The task of finding the perfect locationfor an estate on the South Downs lasted18 months. Then Mark Driver and hiswife Sarah (ex-hedge fund manager andlawyer respectively) came across a 240-hectare (600-acre) farm in what has longbeen known locally as the ‘secret valley’

near Alfriston in East Sussex. Its namewas Rathfinny Farm. Mark and Sarahadmit to having spent more than £10mso far. Their plan is to plant 400 acreswith vines, which they hope will produce amillion bottles of sparkling wine a year bythe early 2020s.

In 2013 the innovative winery buildingnestling into the hillside at the centre ofthe estate was completed. The multi-million pound building housing the state ofthe art winery and the tasting /receptioncentre which overlooks the vines is bothenvironmentally sensitive, featuringsustainable design techniques, andenergy efficient. It reflects many of the

RATHFINNYESTATE


Rathfinny Estate – growingsustainably by Joanna Wood

Rathfinny estate is only three miles from the Sussex coast.

aims and ambitions of Rathfinny’s owners.Amongst these are working with thelandscape, the local community and theSouth Downs Natural Park whilst alwaysseeking to achieve the highest standardsof quality and experience for Englishsparkling wine drinkers.

The planning and attention to detail ofthis extraordinary enterprise to plant oneof the largest single estate vineyards inEngland and ultimately produce a millionbottles of “world-class” sparkling wineannually is a tribute to the Drivers andtheir team of professionals. On thegrowing side the king pin is a quiet,rugged New Zealander, CameronRoucher who arrived five years ago, ayear before planting began.

Rathfinny’s vineyard manager grew upin Manawatu, New Zealand and studiedviticulture and winemaking before gainingextensive experience in vineyard, nursery,winery and cellaring operations working inNew Zealand and Australia. In June 2008Cameron was named the Hawkes BayYoung Viticulturist of the Year andrunner-up in the national competition. Hebrings experience, knowledge andessential management skills in the area ofvineyard management and production toRathfinny. Cameron moved 12,000 mileswith his family to be part of this ambitious

project and describes working in the UKviticultural industry as being “still on theedge of growing vines but the opportunityto start from scratch is fairly rare aroundthe globe”. He is refreshingly honestabout how he sees growing vines underEnglish skies.

Rathfinny’s first 50 acres of vines wereplanted in April 2012. At present 180acres - 240,000 vines have been planted(72 hectares) and the last 20 acres at

RATHFINNYESTATE

27Vine Growers Yearbook www.hortnews.co.uk

Owner of Rathfinny Estate Mark Driver

the entrance to the Rathfinny Estate wentin last spring. Cameron says the plantingis slowing down for a couple of years – weare consolidating – finding what performswell, which varieties and clones do best.“We’ll rest for a few years then go backinto planting”. Another 60 hectares couldbe planted in the future. So far they haveplanted the three principal grape varietiesused for the finest sparkling wines – PinotNoir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.Smaller blocks of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris,Auxerrois and Riesling have been plantedfor both still and sparkling wine.

The rootstock usedthroughout is chalk-tolerantFercal. Cameron hasstarted to assess theclones chosen. ForRathfinny’s Pinot Noir,clones 386 and 459 werechosen of which clone 386is the dominant blend. Sofar they are working welland giving good yields andquality of fruit. Of theChardonnay clones, clone95 is working best so far.For Pinot Meunier they arenot finding any differencesso far and all are doing well.Rathfinny’s first plantingyear in 2012 was asCameron admits “not thegreatest year to start and itwas followed by anotherrubbish year for establishingyoung vines being either wetand cold or hot and dry.” Heexpects to pick 100 tonnesin 2016 and it’s upwardsfrom then on. He is anadvocate for green harvest

RATHFINNYESTATE


Cameron Roucher - Rathfinny’s vineyard manager.

Achieving good vine health to producethe best quality grapes for the winery

is the interest of the viticulturist andsomething of a chicken and egg situation.Everything wants to be about right at thesame time, a coincidence of the rightplant material growing inthe right situation andclimate under the bestgrowing practises.

As for any organism,health is dependent onnutrition and the health ofthe soil, from which thevine is primarily fed, is themost importantconsideration. Soil fertilityis simple in its fundamentalsignificance but a complexfunction of many things.Nutrient content is clearlyimportant but more so the

combination of soil physical, biological andchemical characteristics that will allownutrient release on demand to thegrowing vine.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), asreported from a soil test, is one indicator

“anything a bit behind at veraison we dropon the ground.”

When asked about what he findsdifficult about growing vines in England, itisn’t the weather but the availability ofproducts which is the hardest thing. “Theweather is not as bad as people makeout; growing in England in relation torainfall is quite easy as rain events aremild, 10mm at any one time. In NZ wecan get 150mm two days beforeharvest.” What advice would Camerongive anyone considering planting avineyard here? Site selection is key, in

particular soil as it’s so hard to overcomeproblems plus good drainage. This leadsto the choice of chalk and greensandunderlying geology which gives a goodclue to free draining soils. Good light isoften forgotten but the Sussex coast(Rathfinny is three miles inland) has longbeen recognised for having the best lightlevels in the UK. A southerly aspect tomake the most of what sun we get isimportant and finding a frost free site isanother advantage to being near thecoast. As Cameron sums up “a good sitemakes all the rest so much easier”. ■

SOILFERTILITY


Understanding effective vinenutritionJulian Searle, Agrii fruit and vine agronomist, casts light on what is happening in yoursoil.

of potential fertility and a measure of thenutrient holding capacity of the importantsoil cations K, Mg and Ca. The surface ofclay and organic matter particles arenegatively charged and enable the cationsto be held against loss from leachingready for plant uptake. In alkaline soils theso called base cations Ca, Mg, Na,predominate on the exchange sites and inacid soils the acidic cations H and Al. Theacid-base balance has a critical influenceon fertility. Most crop plants includingvines thrive best in neutral mildlyacidic/alkaline soils primarily because ofthe optimal availability of macro and micronutrients in this mid-range but alsobecause of the impact on soil structure.Acid soils need to be treated with lime orgypsum to neutralise them and it may bepossible to acidify highly alkaline soils withFerrous heptahydrate though the latter isa significantly more expensive propositionthan the former.

Nutrient availability as influenced by bothCEC and pH is key but remains potentialuntil soil structure is such that vine rootscan grow through the soil profile andforage to exploit these reserves. By anymeasure, the importance of soil structureto performance may trump all other soilfactors. Soil porosity to enable readydiffusion of water, oxygen and nutrientsand unhindered root development iscritical to all plants and deep rooting vinesare particularly intolerant of cold wetpoorly aerated soils. Well-structured soilsare characterised by a mix of particlesthat freely aggregate and remain porousagainst water saturation, wind erosionand compaction. The ratio of sand, silt andclay, the different cations in the clay andthirdly the organic matter content are themain determinants. In this way the

physical form of the particles, thechemical constituents and the presenceof organic matter that contributes carbonand influences soil biology together areresponsible for the make-up of a healthysoil.

To some extent all these features canbe altered and improved. Acid soils can beneutralised by the addition of lime orgypsum which also has the effect ofdisplacing acid cations with base cationsthat improve soil particle aggregation.Organic matter can be added to alterphysical structure, add humic content andbenefit soil fauna; humic acids have 3xgreater influence on soil CEC than claysand are the lunch box for soil fauna andgood soil biology. Altering physicalstructure to alleviate compaction bymechanical means or planting deeprooting cover crops is a part of goodagricultural practise particularly inperennial row crop production. Landdrainage or mole ploughing to alleviateareas of high water retention, the result ofpoor soil structure, is sometimesnecessary.

To determine the health of your soil

SOILFERTILITY


carry out a thorough soil survey. OS mapsnow held by Cranfield University and theLand Information Service,www.landIS.org.uk are a source of valuableinformation regarding general soil type.Specifically, sampling and laboratorytesting is a standard method foranalysing: nutrient content, pH, CEC, IPC(free calcium for the development of ironchlorosis), particle type, organic matter,and even soil biology can all be tested inthis way. Modern technologies such asthose employed by SoilQuest, Soyl can beused to interrogate local soil physical andchemical constituents and variance,providing a site map to guidemanagement practise. Historic knowledgefrom previous practise and croppingwhere attainable is an important sourceof information to inform and indicatefuture performance. Learn to interpretthe indicators of soil health from fieldexamination.

Fertilising grapes to ensure the fullavailability of the required nutrients so

that they are not a limiting factor to qualityand yield is understood and exhaustivelycovered in the literature. What is requiredin the soil and by the crop to supportproduction is expressed in different ways.Annual nutrient uptake per hectare iswhat a vine assimilates into roots shootsand fruit in a year. This is not the same asofftake which is what is removed in theharvested crop expressed per tonne or anaverage crop per hectare and is less thanuptake. The difference is what is returnedto the soil by roots and shoots, what isstored in the vine and the variation in thisfrom season to season. Differentmanagement practises e.g. burning ormulching prunings will have an influenceand significantly annual climatic andgrowing conditions. Nutrient movementand partitioning within the vine andbetween different tissues is constantlychanging through the year and also variesfrom year to year. Pre flowering the rootstake up less from the soil and instead thevine moves nutrients out of its reserves to

SOILFERTILITY


LandIS: A guide to better soil structure.

The Fruit Grower 2015

meet demand as required. Older vines dothis more effectively than younger vines.Appreciable uptake from soil takes placefrom flowering, particularly potassium,calcium and magnesium. At the end of theseason pre dormancy vines removerelatively high levels of particularlyphosphate, calcium and nitrogen and alsoreturn nutrients indirectly and directly tothe soil. So the system of nutrient supplyin a perennial fruit crop is a bufferedprocess, influenced by both the ‘massive’properties of a healthy soil andsignificantly by movement between tissuesand from stored reserves.

Re supplying the crop annually withapplied fertilisers to take account ofofftake is a reasonable method.Alternatively maintain soils atinternationally recognised levels of fertilityto ensure availability over a period, retesting every 3 years to maintain these. Inthe UK the index system of supply is usedas reported in the DEFRA Fertilisermanual (RB209). In annual croppingsystems keeping indices at or above 2- isrecognised to enable non limiting supply ofP, K and Mg. In vines maintain soils over atwo or three year period (depending onCEC) between 2+ and 3+. Above 3 thecrop is unlikely to show a response andbelow 2 deficiency may occur, visible orsymptomless – so called hidden hunger.Within this range balanced availability ispresumed also assuming that P, K andMg are in balance as excess can limit

uptake of the other and other micronutrients.

Balancing the availability of specificnutrients to improve nutrition is a subjectthat has attracted some attention in anattempt to prescribe and optimise supply.The best known, the Albrecht methodadvocates that an ideal ratio of the fourcations Ca, Mg, K, Na, the Base CationSaturation Ratio (BCSR) is possible andwill influence crop yield and quality. Thisunderstanding is based on his work in the1930s and extrapolation from hisparticular interest in cattle nutrition. Sincethen exhaustive research and improvingknowledge of crop nutrition by amongstothers Rothamsted Research conclude

‘... there is little scientific evidencesupporting the claims that adopting aformula for optimum BCSR improvesnutrient availability in UK soils’. This is notto deny the significance of balanced supplybut that in reality maximised yield occursat a range of cation ratios. Again, soils area buffered environment so thatdetrimental effects are noted at theextremes, for example soils high in naturalMagnesium or where use of magnesianlimestone to correct pH leads to animbalance with Calcium and insufficient tomeet plant requirement. Correction isthen by supplementing poorly suppliednutrients not by maintaining an ‘ideal’ratio. Plants also exert control over uptakeof nutrients from the soil solution inresponse to signals from actively growing

SOILFERTILITY


Source: FGS Agrii

tissues to satisfy need so that thereshould be sufficient of each to meet thechanging needs of the crop as demanded.

The addition of organic matter is uniqueas a technique to improve all aspects ofsoil health physically chemically andbiologically and to confer resilience to thesystem of balanced soil nutrient and watersupply. The cost of applying an availablesource, probably PAS100 compost, issignificant. Offset this against the releaseof actual and improved available nutrient(and water) over more than one seasonand instead of inorganic applications.Certainly long term AHDB trials in pomefruit confirm yield gain attributed toimproved soil status to depth through theprofile. Where I have returned to sampletreated soils, visual and chemical analysisconfirms a strong response in raised CEC,levels of P, K and Mg and wormincorporation. The release of nitrogenfrom compost, though effectively slow(typically released over a 3 year period)can present a problem from repeatapplications to cropping vines so that thebest timing maybe shortly after planting,mulching a 10-15cm layer to the row only.This will instantly prevent water stress,

and potentially reducethe establishmentperiod withoutcropping detriment.

Apart fromavailability, soilmoisture is highlysignificant so that theextended dryconditions of latespring/early summer2015 saw potassiumdeficiency occur inmany vines. Potassium

is an essential nutrient in maintaining cellturgor and transport of assimilates. In thissituation foliar additions assist in theshortfall as they do when identifiedpotentially limiting by other factors suchas pH, rootstock influence (SO4), knownoccurrence of a particular physiologicaldisorder (EBSN) and disease prevalence(botrytis). History of symptoms, analysisresults over a number of seasonsincluding petiole analysis (taken atflowering and veraison) and anunderstanding of specific crop stagedemand are useful in the timelyapplication of foliar applied nutrients tosupplement soil supply and ensure nonlimiting availability. In particular preflowering applications of nitrogen, calcium,boron and zinc, possibly potassium andmagnesium. Post flowering potassium,boron, zinc may be needed as confirmedby petiole analysis. Closer to veraisonpotassium, calcium and magnesium maybe required.

Further reference Wine GrapeNutrition, Vine Growers Yearbook 2013 ■

SOILFERTILITY


Another sign that viticulture in the UK is nowa serious industry is the establishment of a

research vineyard for both scientific anddemonstration purposes at NIAB EMR, thepremier fruit research station at East Malling inKent. NIAB EMR draws on a century of successin supporting global fruit production and isfocusing its viticulture research anddevelopment activity on improving quality,reducing costs and helping the UK wine industry.

The research will involve leading scientistsfrom across NIAB EMR’s three researchprogrammes: Resource Efficiency for CropProduction, Genetics & Crop Improvement andPest & Pathogen Ecology for Sustainable CropManagement. The first vines were planted in2015 (more will be added in spring 2016) andthe grape research programme at NIAB EMR isbeing coordinated by Dr Julien Lecourt (fromUniversity of Bordeaux and INRA). The researchstation is partnering with a consortium of UKvineyards to ensure that its world-class fruitscience will play a significant role to furtheradvance viticulture unique to the UK climate.

Trained at French universities with a plantphysiology background, most recently atUniversity of Bordeaux where Julien completed aPhD studying the rootstock effect on nitrogenuse efficiency in grafted grapevines, Julienemphasises “We are in this for the long termperhaps even beyond my retirement”. He’s beenin England for two years but still reads theFrench national newspapers daily and hasnoticed an increasing number of articles onEnglish wine growing and the success of oursparkling wines in international competitionswhich he says demonstrates the growingEuropean and global recognition of the quality ofwines from England. “Now the old French adagethat said – ‘In Hell the food is from Germany and

the winefromEngland’ isno longervalid” jokesJulien. TheFrench arere-thinkingtheirattitude toEnglishwine andimpressedby thequality theyare nowtaking itvery seriously. The recent news of the TaittingerChampagne house investment in Kent is a casein point.

“The quality of UK wines has dramaticallyincreased this last decade. It’s a boomingindustry producing amazing wines due tocontinuous improvement in wine making. Whatthe industry needs is help with more consistentcropping (both quality and quantity of grapes). Toaddress this, the UK viticulture sector nowneeds world-class science to further underpinthe production of the finest quality, globally-recognised, unique wines and increasewinemakers’ margins”, says Julien. “The vineyardhere will ensure that our research is directlyapplicable to commercial vineyards and alsoprovides an essential tool to test upstreaminnovative practices or novel ideas of research inviticulture”, explains Julien.

His vision for the research is perhaps notsurprisingly wrapped up with that excellentFrench word ‘terroir’. The research will help toreflect the terroir of the UK in the wine by taking

VITICULTURALRESEARCH


Viticultural research grows upby Joanna Wood

Dr Julien Lecourt.

advantage of the limitations of our ‘dubiousclimate’ to produce unique wines in the world.Julien considers that because “it’s more difficultto grow grapes here, viticulturalists and winemakers have to be the best as they don’t havethe choices others may have”. Julien says theaim of his research at NIAB EMR is to study howpre-harvest factors and management affectplant physiology and post-harvest fruit quality.“My key research area is developing newgrowing systems in the orchard by studying howcanopy structure affects light interception andresource partitioning in trees. I will also developresearch on “new crops”, especially on grapevinephysiology”.

The new research vineyard is 0.7 of a hectareand has been designed to compare 3 trainingsystems and to include a Pinot Noir andChardonnay clones collection. This surrounds ascience area with randomised blocks composedof 5 varieties on 2 different rootstocks. Julienadds, “There is also a ‘climate change area’where we are growing 10 varieties not suitableyet for the UK and we will follow their phenologyand berry quality for a long period of time incollaboration with INRA (the French NationalInstitute for Agricultural Research) and theUniversity of Bordeaux. The idea here is topredict which varieties will be able to grow in theUK in the future”. ■

VITICULTURALRESEARCH


Dates for your Diary

CONFIRM DATES AND LOCATIONS BEFORE TRAVELLING

LONDON WINE FAIRMay 3rd - 5th 2016Olympia, Londonwww.londonwinefair.com

INTERNATIONAL COOL CLIMATE WINESYMPOSIUMMay 26th – 28th 2016Hilton Metropole, Brighton.www.iccws2016.com

NATIONAL ENGLISH WINE WEEKMay 28th – June 5th 2016www.englishwineproducers.co.uk

FRUIT FOCUSJuly 20th 2016East Malling, Kent.ME19 [email protected]

NATIONAL FRUIT SHOWOctober 19th + 20th 2016Maidstone, Kent.ME14 [email protected]

FARM BUSINESS INNOVATION SHOW 2015November 9th +10th 2016The NEC, Birmingham.B40 [email protected]

INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTANovember 27th – 30th 2016Messe Stuttgart, Germany.www.messe-stuttgart.de/en/ivifho

VINITECHNovember 29th – December 1st 2016Bordeaux Exhibition Centre, France.www.vinitech-sifel.com/en/

PROWEINMarch 19th – 21st 2017Düsseldorf, Germany.www.prowein.com

DRINKTECSeptember 11th – 15th 2017 Munich, Germany.www.drinktec.com

As part of the WSTA that speaks for thewine and spirit trade and campaigns for

a vibrant and sustainable industry, with justover three months into the year, 2016already feels as if it’s going to be somethingspecial for English wine.

Much has happened already and there’smuch more planned for the remainder of theyear.

English Wine Round TableMarch saw the first ever UK Government

and English Wine Round Table. The event,hosted by the Defra Secretary of State,Elizabeth Truss MP, brought together Englishwine representatives from the WSTA,English Wine Producers and UK VineyardsAssociation and shone a welcome spotlighton the sector. Most importantly, the eventcentred on the enormous potential for thesector to grow and how Government andindustry can work in partnership to fulfilthat potential.

Even before the event, the Round Tablehad galvanized the sector to work morecollaboratively and top producers cametogether to collect detailed data and toestablish growth forecasts for productionand exports. At the meeting producerswere able to commit to doubling annualproduction to 10 million bottles by 2020and increasing exports to 25% ofproduction in the same timeframe - an eyewateringly ambitious tenfold increase inexport volumes compared to 2015.

Discussions focused on three main

themes: increasing production and domesticdemand, improved data collection (includingidentifying potential new vineyard sites) andincreasing exports. The Round Tablehighlighted English wine’s significantcontribution to the rural economy and itspotential to create a large number of skilledjobs, boost rural tourism and support theUK’s hospitality sector. It also covered anumber of obstacles and issues that facethe sector including overly restrictiveplanning rules and access to pesticides.

The Round Table wasn’t just a one off – itis just a start of an ever closer dialoguebetween industry and Government. Weagreed to hold the next wine table event inlate September, at which we would discussprogress on the three main themes withparticular focus on developing a five yearexport plan.

WINE & SPIRITTRADE ASSOCIATION


An eventful year for UK WineIndustrySimon Stannard, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s European Affairs Directorreflects on an eventful start to the year with the promise of far more yet to come.

First UK Government and English Wine Round Table.

Drinks CabinetAs if one event with a

Cabinet Minister wasn’tenough, just beforeEaster WSTA membersrepresenting Englishwine, together with theircolleagues from EnglishGin producers, foundthemselves sitting at theCabinet table at 10Downing Street oppositethe Prime Minister.

The event chaired byDefra Secretary of StateLiz Truss MP, broughttogether some of thecountry’s top distillers and English winemakers to discuss Government support forexports and why the vast majority of the wineand spirits industry think the UK is strongerin the EU. In a survey of WSTA members90% of those who responded, supported theUK’s continued membership of the EU.During the discussions Mr Cameron askedthe group of mainly SME’s about how theybenefitted from EU membership and howtheir businesses would be affected if Britainleft.

A number of topics were covered includingthe barriers faced when exporting out of theEU, the implications on labelling and the

impact leaving would have on investors. TheSME’s explained how start-up costs,particularly for wine makers, were huge andbeing able to attract investment and skilledlabour for the industry was crucial to theirrealising their ambitions.

The event also provided the opportunity tomake the case to the Prime Minister of theimportance of serving English wine andsparkling wine (alongside British gin) at allappropriate Government hosted events inUK and also the hope that Government willsend a strong signal to UK missionsoverseas, particularly target exportdestinations, that they should routinely serve



English wine and British gin. So why the sudden interest from

Government? While two Government eventsin a month are unusual – in fact there was athird – George Eustice MP, the DefraMinister of State for Food and Farmingvisited Accolade Park to see Europe’s largestwine bottling plant in March too - the WSTAhas been working hard with Government fora number of years.

From an industry once under threat weare now an industry on the rise: recognisedby Government - not only for its contributionto the economy, but also for being anindustry that takes its CSR responsibilitiesseriously and with a demonstrable record ofeffective self-regulation.

Whether through promoting responsibleconsumption through the Responsibility Dealwhich has seen one billion units of highstrength products removed from the shelveswhile, at the same time, 80% of all alcoholicdrinks products now voluntarily carryinginformation on units. Or through reducingalcohol harm by way of schemes likeChallenge 25 and responsible retailingguidance, both ideas formed by the Retail ofAlcohol Standards Group. First amongequals here is Community AlcoholPartnerships. Conceived by the WSTA thisretail-led initiative has given birth to 100CAPs all across the country with moreplanned for the remainder of 2016.

Through demonstrable actions andrecognised outcomes, industry has sent astrong message to Government thatindustry can be trusted and that industryaction can achieve more, faster and at lesscost through often innovative and voluntarymeans, rather than through burdensomeand inflexible regulation.

What Next in 2016?The International Cool Climate Wine

Symposium from 26-28 May will ensure thespotlight remains firmly focussed on theEnglish and Welsh sectors when the world’sleading winemakers and viticulturalists cometogether in Brighton. Thereafter attentionwill turn to the second Wine Round Tableevent in the Autumn. And of course there’sthe small matter of seeing the 2016 harvestto completion successfully too.

I started by asking whether 2016 wouldbe a vintage year. That wine was singled outfor a modest Excise Duty rise in 2016 in mymind slightly takes the gloss ever so slightlyoff what otherwise has been a great vintageyear. But a vintage year nonetheless with thefuture looking brighter than ever. ■



For a complimentary copy

Please contact Andrea ....

t: + 44 (0) 1622 695656

e: [email protected]

w: www.actpub.co.uk

PROFILING WINES


GCMS for the profiling ofwines

Here at Campden BRI, one of thetechniques we use in the analysis of wines

is Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry(GC/MS). This article will give you somebackground as to why this analytical techniqueis being increasingly used by the wine industryand how exactly it works.

The world wine industry is currently goingthrough a very innovative phase at virtually allstages, from the grape to the consumer. Thisincludes using different fermentationtechniques, different yeast strains, ageing,wood treatment and so on. There are alsooptions regarding final treatments prior tobottling, filtration package (bottle, can, PET)closure, storage in cellar, transport andstorage at point of sale. All impact on theflavour and quality of the wine.

We frequently help our clients in the wineindustry to identify why a problem has arisen –we call them wine post mortems! This couldbe a taint, a flavour or aroma defect, asediment or haze or simply capping of aromaor flavour.

Sensory assessments are avaluable tool, but we are frequentlyinvolved in disputes betweencompanies and this kind of analysishas limited use in these situations.Answering questions such as whois responsible for an issue andidentifying whether the producer,transporter/shipper or importer isat fault requires state-of-the-artscience.

As UK wines are generally sold ata higher price than many mass-produced wines and our wines arebeing increasingly exported,ensuring that UK wines are at theiroptimum quality at point of sale iscrucial.

Part of a GCMS overlay showing significant differences between 2samples (blue trace and black trace) of allegedly the same wine.

Geoff Taylor is the Head of CampdenBRI’s Wines and Spirits Department.

How does it work?GC/MS is a powerful technique which

separates and identifies key componentswithin the wine down to nanogram per litrelevels (0.000000001gm). Both aroma andflavour compounds are separated andidentified. Then, by overlayingchromatographic profiles, changes within awine can be monitored.

Chromatography separates compounds,after which they are fed into the massspectrometer to identify the mass. Themasses are checked against the internationalmass spectral library to unequivocally identifythe compound.

There is also the option of a second massspectrometer (GC/MS/MS or gaschromatography tandem massspectrometry), which splits the individualmolecules in order to achieve even greatersensitivity and specificity. We also have thevery latest time of flight (TOF/GC/MS) whichenables us to detect and identify unknown orunexpected compounds within wine withoutthe need to know in advance what we arelooking for.

As an example, some pleasant primaryaroma compounds can be shown to increase;others, possibly unpleasant, increase whilesome compounds denature and others mayappear.

Utilising the overlaying technique bygraphical representative, typically each wineshown in a different colour, differences canrelatively easily be visually demonstrated.

ApplicationsThis powerful technique has proven

successful in a number of areas:A Sauvignon Blanc blended with a cheaper

variety. One batch/delivery was much lessaromatic and shown to have less SauvignonBlanc in the blend.

An imported wine was tasted on receipt andfound to taste tired/ old. GCMS profiles werecompared (buying sample verses importedstock) and different compounds, which weremarkers of heat damage, were detected inthe suspect stock. This highlights howimportant it is to store wines correctly andcare should be taken when exporting.Excessive heat can dramatically reduce wine

quality and shelflife.

We compared amajor brandedvarietal against itscompetitors inorder to try andidentify points ofdifference.Variables wereminimised by usingfreshly bottledwines from thesame vintage atthe same timepoint. Differenceswere noted. One

PROFILING WINES


obvious application here is lees ageingespecially for our bottle fermentated sparklingwines. Which compounds increase, whichones decrease, could this be used to helpoptimise lees ageing and how do these matchsensory profiles?

GCMS can be used to identify taints or tolook for migration compounds, but it also hasmany positive applications, for exampleinvestigating different yeast strains, harvesttimes, fermentation conditions, ageing, oak

treatments, fining, filtrations – the list goes on- and all may affect the primary aroma andflavour compounds. By using GCMS to quantifythese parameters we can help to optimisetreatments.

The potential of profiling wines using GCMSis significant and used correctly it should be aconsiderable asset to our developing industry.■

SPOTTED WINGDROSOPHILA


UK research into spotted wingdrosophila (Drosophila suzukii)Scott Raffle of AHDB Horticulture outlines the latest research findings on thisnew pest of vines

In the 2015 Vine Growers Yearbook, weexplained the potential dangers of the

spotted wing drosophila (SWD) for vinegrowers and outlined the importance ofmonitoring for its presence in vineyards.

Since its arrival in the UK in 2012,populations of SWD have steadily risenyear on year, borne out by the increasednumbers recorded in monitoring traps inthe national monitoring programme. In2014, SWD catches were recorded intraps in cherry crops towards the end ofthe harvest season, prompting cherrygrowers to be vigilant in 2015. Themajority monitored for the presence ofadult SWD in their crops, woodland andhedgerows from March onwards. Fromfruit ripening, they used emergence andflotation testing to assess for thepresence of SWD larvae in developingfruits, which in many cases resulted inthe use of management and controlmeasures. In the vast majority of cases

they succeeded in containing SWD andavoided commercial losses, althoughsome losses did occur where cherrygrowers failed to monitor and managethe pest adequately.

Their experience has encouragedgrowers of strawberries, cane and bushfruit to step up their level of monitoringand control and vine growers are beingencouraged to follow suit. Some vinegrowers did implement a monitoringprogramme in 2015 and on more thanone site, SWD was recorded. It istherefore essential that all vine growerstake this pest seriously and monitor forits presence in 2016.

Since 2013, AHDB Horticulture, Defra,British Summer Fruits and TheWorshipful Company of Fruiterers havebeen funding an SWD researchprogramme in the UK, which is being ledby scientists at NIAB EMR in Kent, inconjunction with the James Hutton

Institute in Dundee. The research has ledto an improved understanding of thebehaviour of SWD in the UK climate, howbest to monitor for it, dispose of wastefruit and how to manage its control.

National monitoringA national monitoring programme has

been running each year to measure thepopulation increases year on year acrossthe fruit growing regions of the country.The steady increase in populations sinceits arrival in the UK reflect what hasbeen seen in other countries in WesternEurope and North America followingconfirmation of its presence.

Habitat preferencesStudies of SWD’s habitat preferences

have shown that adults take refuge infarm woodland and hedgerows duringthe dormant winter months when thereare no attractive fruits to feed on withinneighbouring commercial fruit crops.However, from March and April onwardstheir activity outside of woodland andhedgerows begins to increase and as

commercial fruits/berries begin todevelop, the numbers of SWD beingrecorded in monitoring traps within thecrops start to rise. In cherries, the crophas been found to be more attractive toSWD than the lure contained in themonitoring traps, so the trap catchesrecorded during harvest may actually belower at that time in the season.

Fecundity of femalesStudies have also been made into the

fecundity of adult females to betterunderstand when developing fruits aremost at risk from egg laying. Femaleshave been found to be most fecund fromlate April through until August andSeptember, the time of year coincidingwith the ripening of most soft fruit, stonefruit and vineyards. Adult activity is alsoknown to increase under warm, humidconditions, which are often found underpolythene tunnel protected soft andstone fruit crops.

Pest monitoringResearch has also been carried out to

identify the most reliable methods formonitoring both adult and larval stagesof SWD. For adult monitoring traps, alarge range of insect lures have beenassessed and compared and to date, theGasser lure and DrosAttract lure (whichis sold with the Biobest trap) have beenfound to be as good and practical as any.Both of these are liquids and need to bereplenished within the trap on a weeklybasis. A good alternative dry lure hasbeen developed by Greenwich NRI, butthis is not yet commercially available togrowers. To monitor for the presence oflarvae in developing fruits, dissection ofthe fruits by hand has been found to be



Adult male spotted wing drosophila (copyrightEMR).

most accurate, but impractical forgrowers. Allowing adults to emerge fromfruits whilst being incubated is also veryeffective, but takes three weeks. Of themore rapid methods available, use of asugar solution in a flotation test hasproved to be most effective.

Waste fruit disposalWork has also been done to identify

the best way to dispose of waste fruitaffected by SWD to avoid the pestsurviving and re-invading a plantation.The most effective technique identified isto seal the waste fruit in a container of200-500 litres – a Dolav type bin willsuffice. Sealing the container results inanaerobic conditions and fruitfermentation. At 18-25°C, soft fruitwaste will ferment in 24 hours,destroying all SWD larvae, but stone fruitwaste can take up to 72 hours. Longerdurations are likely to be required atlower temperatures. However, afterfermenting, the waste is still attractive toSWD adults, so needs to beincorporated into the surface of a fieldsoil to render it unattractive to SWDadults.

Control productsIn research to assess the efficacy of

several different crop protectionproducts on cherries in 2015, spinosad

(Tracer), cyantraniliprole (Exirel), lambda-cyhalothrin (Hallmark) and deltamethrin(Decis) all offered good levels of controlfor 1-2 weeks (depending on product)with pyrethrins (Spruzit) offering some,but not complete control, for severaldays. At the time of writing, lambda-cyhalothrin and spinosad are approvedfor use on outdoor vineyards, withpyrethrins approved in outdoor andprotected vineyards.



Organic fruit fly traps of the spotted wing drosophila

monitoring and mass trapping

www.becherfalle.ch RIGA AG [email protected]

Schützenhausstrasse 7, CH-8548 Ellikon a.d. Thur Tel: +41 52 375 25 00 / Fax: +41 52 375 24 94

Further researchIn this industry funded project, work is

continuing in 2016 on the nationalmonitoring and fecundity work. Furtherresearch this year will investigate the useof bait spraying and the development of‘Attract and Kill’ technology. In a discretepiece of work being funded by TheWorshipful Company of Fruiterers,scientists at NIAB EMR are removing thecontents of the gut of SWD adults livingin woodland. This is being analysed usinggenetic technology to identify thecontents. Understanding what the SWDadults are feeding on during the wintermonths may allow us to developimproved management strategies forthe pest.

Guidance for vine growers in 2016Vineyard growers should monitor for

adult SWD from February onwards usingDroso Traps with ‘Dros Attract’ or‘Gasser’ lure. This is especially importantgiven that there can be manygenerations per year as the full life-cycletakes only 12-15 days to complete whentemperatures are 18°C and ifpopulations are allowed to increase overthe season, then fruit damage will occur.

• It is best for vine growers to startmonitoring weekly from February,particularly in woodland, hedgerowsand adjacent vulnerable crops.

• Consider the use of perimetertrapping (traps positioned every 2metres along the crop boundary)early in the season to delay theappearance and ingress of SWDadults to the crop.

• As soon as adults are found in oraround the crop, use recommendedcontrol products regularly until the

fruits ripen, whilst ensuring thatharvest intervals are met.

• Prior to fruit ripening, use theflotation method every week to checkfor larvae in developing fruits.

• Ensure old or overripe fruit left in thecrop after harvest, is removed andfermented for at least 48 hours in aDolav type bin (as outlined on theAHDB Horticulture website). This isparticularly important in vineyards,where waste fruit is often allowed toover-winter in the plantation.

• The fermented fruit, pomace or otherwaste is still likely to be attractive toSWD adults, even if it has beencomposted. Sending it away foranaerobic digestion (as somegrowers do) is an ideal solution.Alternatively, it should beincorporated into the surface of fieldsoils.

Further informationFor more comprehensive information

about monitoring traps, how to set themup, where to locate them, how to monitorthem and how to use the flotationmethod for assessing larvae, view thededicated SWD page of the AHDBHorticulture website at:http://horticulture.ahdb.org.uk/swd.

For information on control products,always be guided by a BASIS qualifiedagronomist. ■



Agronomist Rob Saunders of nationaldistributor Hutchinsons brings his many

years of practical experience to bear on twomajor considerations in making sure sprayapplications in vine growing are effective –avoiding resistance and making sure yoursprayer is set properly.

Over the years useful plant protectionproducts have been lost from the growers’armoury, as the target organism has becomeresistant. The definition of resistance as usedby the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee(FRAC), refers to ‘an acquired, heritablereduction in sensitivity of a fungus to a specificfungicide’. Botrytis and powdery mildew aregood examples of the problem as they haveboth developed resistance to some of the

fungicides used to combat them. The development of resistance is an example

of evolution in action, and arises because, ineach case, the length of the pathogen life cycle– the generation time – is very short, and vastnumbers of offspring (spores) are produced –each one an individual, and each one slightlydifferent. If the population is being challengedby a pesticide, any individuals which aredifferent enough from the norm to survive andcan pass their resistance onto subsequentgenerations. Hence a resistant populationdevelops - one that is better adapted to theenvironment they face. If the same fungicidalmaterial continues to be used, the selectionpressure encourages the proliferation of theresistant race.

CROP PROTECTION


Successful vine growing:Efficacy & cost are just the start

Unfortunately, this scenario has becomemore likely in the context of the neweragrochemicals which often have a very specificmode of action, often affecting just onemetabolic pathway. This makes it easier for amutation to arise that side-steps the particularmode of action. Another factor is that, due toregulatory and commercial pressures, theapproved rates of use are set at a level thatleaves little margin for error, so any shift in thesensitivity of the target organism can spelltrouble for the grower. As a result, growersneed to implement a pro-active anti-resistancestrategy by using products with differentmodes of action, either in sequence or inmixtures. This massively complicates theprocess of devising a satisfactory spray

sequence, and leads to the need for growers toobtain, store and apply a greater number ofdifferent products. This complexity isunwelcome to growers who would generallyprefer to use a smaller range of materials, butsimply choosing the least expensive chemistrythat is effective is not a sustainable strategy inthe long term.

As approved products are lost and newmaterials are fewer and further between, thetask of carefully deploying the tools available,such that their useful life is maximised, is vitalfor the future. The job is not made any easierbecause there are numerous products whichhave different active ingredients but whichshare the same mode of action, so swappingbetween them does nothing to ease theselection pressure acting on the targetorganisms. FRAC is the definitive source ofinformation on this subject, and the FRACguidelines should be followed closely. Their website is www.frac.info/home

The development of resistant pests and

CROP PROTECTION


“Growers need to implement apro-active anti-resistance strategyby using products with different

mode of action”

Downy mildew. Powdery mildew.

diseases is a constant consideration and a longterm threat, but on most occasions whenthere is a failure of control it’s a consequenceof flaws in product choice, application intervalor application technique, and the developmentof resistance is easy to blame but in factcomes well down the list when trying to get tothe bottom of a problem. When all otheravenues have been exhausted, the sensitivity ofa pest or pathogen to a given product can bechecked in a laboratory.

Product application is a subject area all byitself but the main aspect that growers shouldbe aware of is that sprayer settings need to beoptimised when the sprayer first arrives on

your farm, and continually adapted to suitthe characteristics of the canopy as itdevelops – for example the water and airvolumes needed to achieve goodcoverage at bud break are very differentto those which are required when a fullcanopy has developed. Early in the seasonrelatively little airflow is required andgrowers should reduce the fan speed orrestrict the air intake to the fan tominimise drift and maximise coverage onthe target. Later in the season moreairflow is not always better either, as vineleaves can ‘wall up’ spoiling spraypenetration – and it is the shaded leaveswithin the canopy where powdery mildewis most likely to start.

Spray coverage in vines is difficult toassess visually, though critically watchinga sprayer at work should not be

overlooked as a first step. Remember that, ifyou are using an orchard sprayer with an axialflow fan, the airflow will still be rotating in thedirection of the fan as it leaves the sprayer –the coverage to the left and right-hand side ofthe sprayer can be quite different, but adjustingnozzles and baffles can improve the situationwhen done correctly. After visual assessment,the most basic method of assessing coverageis the use of water sensitive paper. Fixing thepieces of paper onto the upper and lower sidesof the leaves is fiddly and results in a limitedsample size, as you can only assess coveragewhere the sample strips are fixed. The paper isnot a perfect indicator; the surface of thepaper is different to the surface of the leaf, andlarger droplets that would normally bounce andshatter will land and become fixed as if onblotting paper. Another option is the use of‘Surround’ a Kaolin based product that leaves awhite residue that’s visible in daylight, andfluoresces slightly under a UV light in blackoutconditions.

CROP PROTECTION


“On most occasions when there is afailure of control it’s a consequence

of flaws in product choice,application interval or appication

technique”

Good disease control.

All existing evaluation techniques have theirdrawbacks and limitations but the situationshould improve with the completion of work byCharles Whitfield at NIAB EMR, who isdeveloping a hand-held device that will measurespray deposits in the field.

Having got your application right, productchoice and sequencing are complicated by theneed to build in anti-resistance strategies, andthis is where your agronomist comes into hisown; efficacy and cost are just the start. ■

CROP PROTECTION


49

Your Buyers Guide starts here ... Find addressesand all contact details from page 54

ADVISORY SERVICESA’Court ViticultureA E Chapman & Son LtdAgrovista UK LtdCampden BRIFera Science Ltd (Fera)John Buchan Agronomy LtdNational Farmers UnionVine Care UK

AGRONOMY SUPPORTAgriiEngage Agro EuropeHL Hutchinson LtdVineyard Scare’m Self Launching BirdScaring Kites

ANALYSIS SERVICESCampden BRICustom Crush UK LtdFruit Advisory Services Team (FASTLLP)

ANALYSIS EQUIPMENT QCL

ANCHORING SYSTEMSPlatipus Anchors Ltd

BARRELSTaransaud TonnellerieTonnellerie Rousseau

BIO STIMULANTSChase Organics LtdEngage Agro EuropeICL Specialty FertilisersXL Horticulture Ltd

BIRD NETTINGCapatex LtdLows Of Dundee LtdVineyard Scare’m Self Launching BirdScaring Kites

BOTTLINGBS Labels LtdThree Choirs Vineyards Ltd

CANOPY DE-LEAFINGLamberhurst Engineering LtdVitifruit Equipment

CAPPING MACHINESH. Erben Ltd

CAPSULE SUPPLIERH. Erben LtdRankin Brothers & Sons

COMPOSTSFGS OrganicsJohn Bourne & Co LtdXL Horticulture Ltd

CONTRACT WINE MAKINGCustom Crush UK LtdHattingley Valley Wines LtdLitmus WinesThree Choirs Vineyards Ltd

CONSULTANTSA’Court ViticultureMulti-Color Daventry England LtdPiersons Spirit of Wine Consulting LtdVine Care UK

All addresses and contact details – from page 54

2016 Buyers Guide

2016 Buyers Guide

50

CROP COVERS/MULCHESCapatex LtdClemens GmbH & Co. KGLows Of Dundee Ltd

CROP PROTECTIONAgriiAgrovista UK LtdBayer CropScience LtdBerthoud Sprayers LtdHL Hutchinson LtdLandseer LtdLows Of Dundee LtdVineyard Scare’m Self Launching BirdScaring Kites

DE-STEMMERSNP Seymour Ltd

DISGORGINGHattingley Valley Wines Ltd

EFFLUENT EMPTYINGFour Jays Ltd

ENZYMES & YEASTLitmus Wines

EQUIPMENT HIREAgrimac (UK) LtdStacatruc Ltd

FERTILISERSCompo Expert UK LtdEngage Agro EuropeFGS OrganicsGreenbest LtdHortifeedsICL Specialty FertilisersOmex Horticulture LtdYara UK Ltd

FILLING MACHINESClemens GmbH & Co. KGCore Equipment Ltd

FILTRATIONProfil Solutions Ltd

FOLIAR FEEDSChase Organics LtdEngage Agro EuropeHortifeedsOmex Horticulture LtdYara UK Ltd

FROST PROTECTIONAgrofrost NVCompo Expert UK LtdFruit Advisory Services Team (FAST LLP)NP Seymour Ltd

FUNGICIDESBayer CropScience LtdLandseer Ltd

GLASS BOTTLES A E Chapman & Son Ltd

GPS PLANTINGGuillaume NurseryEugen Weis

GRAFTED VINESGuillaume NurseryVine Care UKThe Vine House (UK) Ltd

GRAPE HARVESTERSLamberhurst Engineering Ltd

GRAPEVINESThe Vine House (UK) Ltd

GROUND COVERCapatex LtdLows Of Dundee Ltd

HERBICIDES Bayer CropScience Ltd


INSECTICIDESBayer CropScience Ltd

INSECT NETTING Agralan Ltd

INSECT TRAPPING SYSTEMSAgralan LtdRIGA - Organic Fly Traps for D.Suzukki

INSURANCELansdown Insurance Brokers

INTER VINE CULTIVATINGBomford Turner LtdLamberhurst Engineering LtdVitifruit Equipment

IRRIGATION EQUIPMENTNetafim UKNew Leaf Irrigation Ltd

LABEL APPLICATORSMecamarc

LABELSAnglia Labels LtdBS Labels LtdKingsway Printers LtdMulti-Color Daventry England Ltd

LABOURRECRUITMENT/MANAGEMENTFruitful Jobs LtdVine Care UK

LIMINGFGS OrganicsJohn Bourne & Co Ltd

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENTAgrimac (UK) LtdBomford Turner LtdClemens GmbH & Co. KGCleveland Crop Sprayers LtdKent Tractors Ltd

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT (Cont)Lamberhurst Engineering LtdMecamarcNP Seymour LtdPiersons Spirit of Wine Consulting LtdRichard Burton Specialised MachineryStacatruc LtdVan Wamel BVVitifruit EquipmentHans Wanner GmbH

MICRO NUTRIENTSEngage Agro EuropeGreenbest Ltd

MOWERS & CHOPPERSLamberhurst Engineering LtdVan Wamel BV

NETTINGCapatex LtdLows Of Dundee LtdVineyard Scare’m Self Launching BirdScaring Kites

NUTRIENTSHortifeedsYara UK Ltd

PLANNINGNational Farmers Union

PLANT HEALTH PROMOTERSFruit Advisory Services Team (FAST LLP)

POLYTUNNELSCapatex LtdPlatipus Anchors LtdXL Horticulture Ltd

POST & WIRE SYSTEMSArcelorMittal Sheffield LtdCalders & GrandidgeGrippleVine Care UKEugen Weis

All addresses and contact details – from page 54 51

2016 Buyers Guide

2016 Buyers Guide

52

PRECISION FARMINGJohn Deere Ltd

PRESSESCore Equipment LtdNP Seymour LtdScharfenberger GmbH & Co.KG

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTCampden BRI

PRUNING EQUIPMENTAgricareBomford Turner LtdLamberhurst Engineering LtdNP Seymour LtdRichard Burton Specialised Machinery

PUMPS & PUMPING EQUIPMENTNP Seymour LtdScharfenberger GmbH & Co.KG

QUALITY ASSURANCE INSTRUMENTSIndex Instruments LtdQCL

RESEARCHFera Science Ltd (Fera)

SOIL ANALYSISJohn Buchan Agronomy Ltd

SOIL PREPARATIONFGS Organics

SOLUBLE FERTILISERSEngage Agro EuropeYara UK Ltd

SPRAYING EQUIPMENTBerthoud Sprayers LtdCleveland Crop Sprayers LtdLamberhurst Engineering LtdNP Seymour LtdRichard Burton Specialised MachineryHans Wanner GmbH

STOPPERSRankin Brothers & Sons

SUNDRIESCapatex Ltd

SWD & PHEROMONE TRAPSAgralan LtdRIGA - Organic Fly Traps for D.Suzukki

TANKS & VATSScharfenberger GmbH & Co.KGTaransaud TonnellerieTonnellerie Rousseau

TILLAGE & MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENTLamberhurst Engineering Ltd

TOILET HIREFour Jays Ltd

TRACTORSJohn Deere LtdKent Tractors LtdLamberhurst Engineering LtdRichard Burton Specialised Machinery

TRAINING & EDUCATIONPlumpton College

TRELLISINGArcelorMittal Sheffield LtdGrippleValente Pali UKVine Care UKVine-Works

TRELLISING DESIGNValente Pali UK

TRICKLE IRRIGATIONNew Leaf Irrigation Ltd


TRIMMING MACHINESClemens GmbH & Co. KGLamberhurst Engineering LtdNP Seymour Ltd

TYING-INAgricare

VERMIN CONTROLJ. Toms Ltd

VINEYARD DESIGNA’Court ViticultureVine Care UKVine-Works

VINEYARD MANAGEMENTCalders & GrandidgePlumpton CollegeVine Care UK

WEATHER & SOIL MONITORINGEQUIPMENTNP Seymour Ltd

WEED CONTROLBayer CropScience LtdClemens GmbH & Co. KGJ. Toms Ltd

All addresses and contact details – from page 54 53

2016 Buyers Guide

2016 Buyers Guide

54 Visit pages 49-53 to check Products & Services these companies offer

A’COURT VITICULTURE4 Shinners CottagesThe Level, DittishamDartmouth, DevonTQ6 0ENTel: 07813 758139Email: [email protected]: www.acourtviticulture.co.ukContact: Ian A’Court

A E CHAPMAN & SON LTDTimbermill Way, Gauden RoadClapham, LondonSW4 6LYTel: 020 7622 4414Email: [email protected]: www.aechapman.co.uk

AGRALAN LTDThe Old BrickyardAshton Keynes, SwindonWiltshire, SN6 6QRTel: 01285 860015Fax: 01285 860056Email: [email protected]: www.agralan.co.ukContact: Alan Frost

AGRICARECooting RoadAylesham Industrial EstateCanterbury, KentCT3 3EPTel: 01304 842280Email: [email protected]: www.agricareuk.com

AGRIIThe Crossways, Alconbury HillHuntingdon, CambridgeshirePE28 4JHTel: 0845 607 3322Fax: 0845 607 3300Email: [email protected]: www.agrii.co.ukContact: Customer Services

Company Addresses & Contacts

AGRIMAC (UK) LTDGrange Way Business ParkGrange Way, ColchesterEssex, CO2 8HFTel: 01206 795111Email: [email protected]: www.agrimacuk.comContact: Robert Vost

AGROFROST NVCanadezenlaan 62B-2920 KalmthoutBelgiumTel: 0032 495 517689Email: [email protected]: www.agrofrost.euContact: Patrik Stynen

AGROVISTA UK LTDCambridge House, Nottingham RoadStapleford, NottinghamNG9 8ABTel: 0115 939 0202Fax: 0115 939 8031Email: [email protected]: www.agrovista.co.uk

ANGLIA LABELS LTDBull Lane, ActonSudbury, SuffolkCO10 0BDTel: 01787 379118Fax: 01787 378840Email: [email protected]: www.anglialabels.co.ukContact: Ian Woodhead

ARCELORMITTAL SHEFFIELD LTDVulcan Works, Birley Vale CloseSheffield, S12 2DBTel: 0114 239 2601Fax: 0114 264 2514Email: [email protected]: www.arcelormittal.com/vineyardwireContact: Sarah Brown

BAYER CROPSCIENCE LTD230 Cambridge Science ParkMilton Road, CambridgeCB4 0WBTel: 01223 226644Fax: 01223 226637Web: www.bayercropscience.co.uk

Twitter: @Bayer4CropsUKContact: Bayer Assist – 0845 609 2266

Visit pages 49-53 to check Products & Services these companies offer 55

2016 Buyers Guide

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56

BERTHOUD SPRAYERS LTDFirst Floor, 4 Oldmedow RoadHardwick Industrial EstateKing’s Lynn, NorfolkPE30 4JJTel: 01553 774997Fax: 01553 772965Email: [email protected]: www.berthoud.co.ukContact: Martin Shackcloth

BOMFORD TURNER LTDStation Road, Salford PriorsEvesham, WorcestershireWR11 8SWTel: 01789 773383Fax: 01789 773238Email: [email protected]: www.bomford-turner.comContact: James Cuthbertson

BS LABELS LTDWood Street, Earl ShiltonLeicestershireLE9 7NETel: 01455 844451Fax: 01455 842607Email: [email protected]: www.bslabels.co.ukContact: Elaine Swingler

CALDERS & GRANDIDGE194 London RoadBoston, LincolnshirePE21 7HJTel: 01205 358866Email: [email protected]: www.caldersandgrandidge.comContact: Mike Lisney

CAMPDEN BRICentenary Hill, Coopers Hill RoadNutfield, SurreyRH1 4HYTel: 01737 822272Email: [email protected]: www.campdenbri.co.uk/wine-services.phpContact: Rachel Rees

CAPATEX LTD127 North Gate, New BasfordNottinghamNG7 7FZTel: 0115 978 6111Fax: 0115 978 6222Email: [email protected]: www.growtex.co.ukContact: Peter Strauss

Visit pages 49-53 to check Products & Services these companies offer

CHASE ORGANICS LTDHeritage House52-54 Hamm Moor LaneAddlestone, Surrey KT15 2SFTel: 01932 878570Fax: 01932 845220Email: [email protected]: www.chaseorganics.co.ukContact: Bernard Courtney

CLEMENS GMBH & CO. KGRudolf-Diesel-Straße 854516 WittlichGermanyTel: 0049 6571 929 204Fax: 0049 6571 929 191Email: [email protected]: www.clemens-online.comContact: Bernhard Clemens

CLEVELAND CROP SPRAYERS LTDPlatform 1, Station RoadDuns, BerwickshireTD11 3HSTel: 01361 883418Email: [email protected]: www.bargam.co.ukContact: James Dixon or Patrick Dixon

COMPO EXPERT UK LTDGreenheyes, Savey LaneYoxall, StaffordshireDE13 8PDTel: 01543 473267Email: [email protected]: www.compo-expert.comContact: Jeremy McHoulMobile: 07921 451852

CORE EQUIPMENT LTD3 Everdon ParkHeartlands Business ParkDaventry, NorthamptonshireNN11 8YJTel: 01327 342589Email: [email protected]: www.core-equip.comContact: Jonathan Chaplin

CUSTOM CRUSH UK LTDUnit 2 Wield YardLower Wield, AlresfordHampshireSO24 9RXTel: 01256 389033Email: [email protected]: Emma Rice


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ENGAGE AGRO EUROPECBTC, Euxton Road, EuxtonChorley, LancashirePR7 6TETel: 01257 226590Email: [email protected]: www.engageagroeurope.comContact: Mark Horner

H. ERBEN LTDLady Lane, HadleighIpswichIP7 6ASTel: 01473 823011Email: [email protected]: www.erben.co.ukContact: Paul Austin

FERA SCIENCE LTD (FERA)Sand Hutton, YorkYO41 1LZTel: 01904 462324Fax: 01904 462147Email: [email protected]: www.fera.co.uk/plantclinicContact: Plant Clinic

FGS ORGANICSStanford Bridge FarmStation Road, PluckleyAshford, KentTN27 0RUTel: 01233 820055Fax: 01233 820044Email: [email protected]: www.fgsorganics.co.ukContact: Mark White

FOUR JAYS LTDBarling Farm, East SuttonMaidstone, KentME17 3DXTel: 01622 843135Fax: 01622 844410Email: [email protected]: www.fourjays.co.ukContact: Sarah Worsfold

FRUIT ADVISORY SERVICES TEAM (FAST LLP)Crop Technology CentreBrogdale Farm, Brogdale RoadFaversham, KentME13 8XZTel: 01795 533225Fax: 01795 532422Email: [email protected]: www.fastllp.comContact: Philippe Parageaud


FRUITFUL JOBS LTDWindy Hollow, Upton BishopRoss on Wye, HerefordshireHR9 7TTTel: 01989 500130Fax: 01989 780432Email: [email protected]: www.fruitfuljobs.comContact: Justin Emery

GREENBEST LTDUnit 2, The MarshHenstridge, SomersetBA8 0TFTel: 01963 364788Fax: 01963 364789Email: [email protected]: www.greenbest.co.ukContact: Simon Gillett

GRIPPLEThe Old West Gun WorksSavile Street East, SheffieldS4 7UQTel: 0114 275 2255Fax: 0114 275 1155Email: [email protected]: www.gripple.comContact: Alex Hartley

GUILLAUME NURSERY32 Route de Gy70700 CharcenneFranceTel: 0033 384 32 80 55Fax: 0033 384 32 84 06Email: [email protected]: www.guillaume.frContact: Gabriel Potier Mobile: 0033 632 05 18 [email protected]

HATTINGLEY VALLEY WINES LTDWield Yard, Lower Wield Nr Alresford, HampshireSO24 9AJTel: 01256 389188Email: [email protected]: www.hattingleyvalley.co.ukContact: Jacob Leadley


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HORTIFEEDSPark Farm, KettlethorpeLincolnLN1 2LDTel: 01522 704404Email: [email protected]: www.hortifeeds.co.ukContact: Andy Judd

HL HUTCHINSON LTDWeasenham Lane, WisbechCambridgeshire, PE13 2RNTel: 01945 461177Fax: 01945 474837Email: [email protected]: www.hlhltd.co.ukRegional Contacts:West Midlands, Central England & South WestChris Cooper: 07899 978207 South East & EastRob Saunders: 07879 694520

ICL SPECIALTY FERTILISERSEpsilon House, West RoadIpswich, SuffolkIP3 9FJTel: 01473 237100Fax: 01473 237150Email: [email protected]: www.icl-sf.co.ukContact: Scott Garnett

INDEX INSTRUMENTS LTDBury Road Industrial EstateOld Station Road, RamseyCambridgeshirePE26 1NFTel: 01487 814313Fax: 01487 812789Email: [email protected]: www.indexinstruments.comContact: Nigel Futter

JOHN BOURNE & CO LTDRye Road, NewendenKentTN18 5QGTel: 01797 252298Fax: 01797 253115Email: [email protected]: Peter Traill

JOHN BUCHAN AGRONOMY LTD1a Garden City, Tern HillMarket Drayton, ShropshireTF9 3QBTel: 01630 639875Email: [email protected]: John Buchan


JOHN DEERE LTDHarby Road, LangarNottinghamNG13 9HTTel: 0800 085 2522Fax: 01949 860490Email: [email protected]: www.johndeere.co.ukContact: Chris Wiltshire

KENT TRACTORS LTDMincing Court FarmDuck Lane, ShadoxhurstAshford, KentTN26 1LTTel: 01233 732439Fax: 01233 733944Email: [email protected]: www.kenttractors.comContact: Andrew Hooker

KINGSWAY PRINTERS LTDKingsway House, Bradley’s CornerWilton Road Industrial EstateHumberston, N E Lincolnshire DN36 4BGTel: 01472 211122Email: [email protected]: www.kingswayprinters.comContact: David WoosterMobile: 07971 523180

LAMBERHURST ENGINEERING LTDPriory Farm, Parsonage LaneLamberhurst, KentTN3 8DSTel: 01892 890364Fax: 01892 890122Email: [email protected]: www.lameng.comContact: Andrew Fuller

LANDSEER LTDLodge Farm, Goat Hall LaneGalleywood, Chelmsford, EssexCM2 8PHTel: 01245 357109Fax: 01245 494165Email: [email protected]: www.lanfruit.co.ukContact: Mark Tully

LANSDOWN INSURANCE BROKERSLansdown House, Pittville Circus RoadCheltenham, GloucestershireGL52 2QETel: 01242 524498Fax: 01242 221191Email: [email protected]: www.lansdowninsurance.comContact: Fred Invine or Tim Davies


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LITMUS WINESLondon RoadDorking, SurreyRH5 6AATel: 01306 879829Email: [email protected]: www.litmuswines.comContact: Mike Florence

LOWS OF DUNDEE LTDPO Box 300, Marrbank House6 Paradise Road, DundeeDD1 9JZTel: 01382 229251Fax: 01382 229997Email: [email protected]: www.lows.co.ukContact: Rosie Wrigley

MECAMARCLa Pierre Qui Tourne51480 OeuillyFranceTel: 0033 326 58 18 18Fax: 0033 247 68 35 73Email: [email protected]: www.mecamarc.comContact: Bastian Wiegmann

MULTI-COLOR DAVENTRY ENGLAND LTDSopwith WayDrayton Fields Industrial EstateDaventry, NorthamptonshireNN11 8PBTel: 01327 301181Email: [email protected]: www.mcclabel.comContact: Nicola Monk

NATIONAL FARMERS UNIONUnit 8, Rotherbrook CourtBedford Road, PetersfieldHampshire, GU32 3QGTel: 01730 711950Fax: 01730 711951Email: [email protected]: www.nfuonline.comContact: Sarah Acworth


NETAFIM UKPenketh Place, West PimboSkelmersdale, LancashireWN8 9QXTel: 01695 556222Fax: 01695 556333Email: [email protected]: www.netafimuk.comContact: Graeme Francis

NEW LEAF IRRIGATION LTDUnit 1 Bartle CourtRosemary LaneBartle, PrestonPR4 0HBTel: 01772 691896Fax: 01772 691984Email: [email protected]: www.newleafirrigation.co.ukContact: Darran Grieveson

NP SEYMOUR LTDAvon Works, CranbrookKentTN17 2PTTel: 01580 712200Fax: 01580 715191Email: [email protected]: www.npseymour.co.ukContact: Nick Seymour

OMEX HORTICULTURE LTDEstuary Road, King’s LynnNorfolk, PE30 2HHTel: 01553 760011Fax: 01553 769784Email: [email protected]: www.omex.co.ukContact: Richard Cameron or Gerald Bonner

PIERSONS SPIRIT OF WINE CONSULTING LTDPump Cottage, East MeonPetersfield, HampshireGU32 1QQTel: 01730 823770Email: [email protected]

PLATIPUS ANCHORS LTDKingsfield Business CentrePhilanthropic RoadRedhill, SurreyRH1 4DPTel: 01737 762300Fax: 01737 773395Email: [email protected]: www.platipus-anchors.comContact: Jeff Curnick


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PLUMPTON COLLEGEDitchling Road, LewesEast SussexBN7 3AETel: 01273 890454Fax: 01273 890071Email: [email protected]: www.plumpton.ac.ukContact: Chris Foss – HoD Wine

PROFIL SOLUTIONS LTDUnits 1 & 2, LittlenethertonDymock, GloucestershireGL18 2EFTel: 01531 890809Fax: 01531 806396Email: [email protected]: www.profilsolutions.comContact: Dave Manns

QCLRiverside, Forest Row Business ParkForest Row, East SussexRH18 5DWTel: 01342 820820Fax: 01342 820825Email: [email protected]: www.qclscientific.comContact: Jamie Duncan

RANKIN BROTHERS & SONS3C Drakes Farm, Drakes DriveLong Crendon, BuckinghamshireHP18 9BATel: 01844 203100Fax: 01844 203101Email: [email protected]: www.rankincork.co.ukContact: Jim Rankin

RICHARD BURTON SPECIALISED MACHINERYFolly Farm, Beck StreetHepworth, DissIP22 2PNTel: 01359 250796Fax: 01359 251788Email: [email protected]: www.rbsm.me.ukContact: Mike Burton

RIGA - ORGANIC FLY TRAPS FOR D.SUZUKKISchützenhausstrasse 78548 Ellikon an der ThurSwitzerlandTel: 0041 52375 2500Fax: 0041 52375 2500Email: [email protected]: www.becherfalle.ch


SCHARFENBERGER GMBH & CO. KGPhilipp-Krämer-Ring 3067098 Bad DürkheimGermanyTel: 0049 6322 6002 0Fax: 0049 6322 6002 10Email: [email protected]: www.scharfenberger.deContact: Dieter HeckelMobile: 0049 173 6133 808

STACATRUC LTDUnits 9 & 10, Pipers Lane Trading EstatePipers Lane, ThatchamBerkshireRG19 4NATel: 01635 872972Fax: 01635 872909Email: [email protected]: www.stacatruc.co.ukContact: David HartMobile: 07768 524404

TARANSAUD TONNELLERIEAvenue de GimeuxCS 90224 Merpins16111 Cognac CedexFranceTel: 0033 545 36 86 50Fax: 0033 545 36 86 56Email: [email protected]: www.taransaud.comContact: Frederic Tailleur

THREE CHOIRS VINEYARDS LTDNewentGloucestershireGL18 1LSTel: 01531 890555Email: [email protected]: www.three-choirs-vineyards.co.ukContact: Kevin Shayle

J. TOMS LTD7 Marley Farm, Headcorn RoadSmarden, AshfordKentTN27 8PJTel: 01233 770066Email: [email protected]: www.jtoms.co.ukContact: Rob Harrison

TONNELLERIE ROUSSEAUZ.A des Champys21160 CoucheyFranceTel: 0033 380 52 30 28 Fax: 0033 380 52 59 52Email: [email protected]: www.tonnellerie-rousseau.comContact: Frederic Rousseau

VALENTE PALI UKBramling House, BramlingCanterbury, KentCT3 1NBTel: 01227 723007Email: [email protected]: www.valentepali.co.ukContact: Nick Kingsman


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ROTARY MOWERS - FLAIL CHOPPERSVAN WAMEL BVEnergieweg 16658 AE Beneden-LeeuwenThe NetherlandsTel: 0031 487 59 29 44Fax: 0031 487 59 29 70Email: [email protected]: www.vanwamel.nlContact: Frank Niels

VINE CARE UK11 Penfolds Place, ArundelWest SussexBN18 9SATel: 01243 210241Email: [email protected]: www.vinecareuk.comContact: Paul Woodrow-HillMobile: 07811 613141

THE VINE HOUSE (UK) LTDFairfield FarmWestow, YorkYO60 7LSTel: 01653 658507Email: [email protected]: www.thevinehouse.co.ukContact: Stuart Smith

VINE-WORKSTel: 01444 702024Email: [email protected]: www.vine-works.comContact: D’Arcy GanderMobile: 07916 294167

VINEYARD SCARE’M SELF LAUNCHING BIRD SCARINGKITESTawney Barn, Tawney CommonEpping, EssexCM16 7PXTel: 01992 524991Email: [email protected]: www.scarem.co.uk

VITIFRUIT EQUIPMENTUnit 3 Skitts Manor FarmMoor Lane, Marsh GreenKentTN8 5RATel: 01732 866567Email: [email protected]: www.vitifruitequipment.co.ukContact: Richard Witt


HANS WANNER GMBHSimoniusstraße 2088239 Wangen in AllgäuGermanyTel: 0049 7522 9310 0Fax: 0049 7522 2217 9Email: [email protected]: www.wanner-maschinenbau.deContact: Horsepower UK Ltd, Phil Stanford(01233 740535)

EUGEN WEISHartmannstraße 2967487 MaikammerGermanyTel: 0049 6321 5093Fax: 0049 6321 5918 7Email: [email protected]: www.vineyard4u.deContact: Ernst Weis

XL HORTICULTURE LTDExmouth Road, West HillOttery St Mary, DevonEX11 1JZTel: 01404 823044Fax: 01404 823335Email: [email protected]: www.xlsoftfruit.co.ukContact: Les Lane

YARA UK LTDHarvest House, EuroparcGrimsby, NE LincolnshireDN37 9TZTel: 01472 889250Fax: 01472 889251Email: [email protected]: www.yara.co.ukContact: Mike Stoker


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UKVA & Regional Associations Contact InformationThe United Kingdom Vineyard Associationwww.ukva.org.ukJo Cowderoy07904 011331 [email protected]

Regional Associations:East Anglian Vineyards Association01284 830799Chairman: Guy [email protected]

Mercian Vineyards Association07523 968341Chairman: Edward [email protected]

South East Vineyards Association01273 890454Chairman: Christopher [email protected]

South West Vineyards Association01308 488991 Chairman: Ian [email protected]

Thames & Chilterns Vineyards Associations01491 832354 Chairman: Bob [email protected]

Welsh Vineyards Association 01600 714152Chairman: Richard [email protected]

Wessex Vineyards Association01672 569190Chairman: Tim Ingram [email protected]

Large Growers & Producers GroupChair: Sam [email protected]

UKVA Management CommitteeSam LindoChairman

Peter GladwellDeputy Chairman

Jane AwtyAuthority on sustainability, small producer,Somerset

Duncan McNeilConsultant viticulturalist, Essex

Shaun MerrickUKVA Treasurer, Accountant, MerciaVineyard Association

Mike PaulInternational wine trade expert, marketingmentor, Shropshire

Emma RiceWinemaking consultant, Hampshire

Tamara RobertsCEO of a leading brand (Ridgeview) and EWPmember, Sussex

Cherie SpriggsWinemaker at a leading brand (Nyetimber)with international experience, Sussex

Geoff TaylorScientific, independent authority, extensiveknowledge of industry, Surrey

Bruce TindaleChair ICCWS, small independent producer,international business experience, Surrey

Julia Trustram EveIndependent with extensive English wineexperience

Industry contacts at a glance

ADAS – Horticultural Headquarters0845 7660085www.adas.uk

AHDB Horticulture 02476 692051www.horticulture.ahdb.org.uk

Chemicals Regulation Directorate01904 455775www.hse.gov.uk/crd/

Commercial Horticultural Association02476 998732 www.cha-hort.com

Crop Protection Association01733 355370www.cropprotection.org.uk

DEFRA03459 33 55 77www.defra.gov.uk

English Wine Producers01536 772264www.englishwineproducers.co.uk

FERA (The Food & Environment ResearchAgency)01904 462000www.fera.defra.gov.uk

The Food Standards AgencyWine Standards Board020 7276 8829www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/winestandards

National Farmers Union02476 858500www.nfuonline.com

NIAB EMR01732 843833www.emr.ac.uk

The Organic Research Centre01488 658298www.organicresearchcentre.com

Plumpton College01273 890454www.plumpton.ac.uk

Royal Agricultural University01285 652531www.rau.ac.uk

Soil Association0117 314 5000www.soilassociation.org

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association020 7089 3877www.wsta.co.uk

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