With harvest season behind us, we’re diving into an exciting phase of work here at Maud Heath Vineyard, undergoing a transformation as we prepare for expansion.
Last week, Alex helped open up the land by taking down the old fence and hedges that bordered our 'Pas De Nom' and new-for-2025 plot, making way for the new rootstock -and new vineyards- that we plan to plant next spring.
Clearing the boundaries is just the first step. Now that the area is open, we’re finalising arrangements to pepare the soil for planting. By ploughing to aerate and loosen it, we create the perfect structure for the young vines to take root. We’re also using this time to apply lime to balance the soil’s pH, ensuring that our vines will have the nutrients they need for strong growth.
Meanwhile, Milos has been putting his muscles to good work on various building projects across the site, helping to make sure our facilities are ready for future visitors. From creating our viewing and tasting areas to making spaces more accessible, his work is paving the way for guests to enjoy a welcoming, immersive experience when we open for Tours and Tastings in Spring 2025!
In addition to expansion, we’re using this quieter season to conduct a thorough audit of our existing vines. Our team have walked each vine line, checking vine health and structure, and will soon be tagging vines to make them easily identifiable. By adding these tags, visitors will be able to explore the vineyard with confidence, identifying vine lines and grape varieties as they go. It’s a small but valuable step in making the vineyard more visitor-friendly and helping guests gain insight into our different grape varieties that we grow here at Maud Heath.
Last week also saw Sian meeting with Andy from the Wine Standards Board. It was a great opportunity to introduce him to our new team, share our ideas for the vineyard’s future and confirm the latest label designs we’re working on. We’re excited about the direction things are heading, and Andy’s feedback is invaluable in helping ensure we stay aligned with all necessary standards.
Along with de-fencing(!) Alex also met with our viticultural consultant, Bert, to confirm the rootstock types and quantities for planting our new vineyards next spring, re-measuring our fields to confirm space and mapping out the vision. With his guidance, we’ll select the best varieties of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir for our terroir, ensuring that each new vine will have the ideal environment to thrive- and therefore produce the best wine!
Last but definitely not least, Ellie’s been our delivery dynamo, hitting the road to drop off Maud Heath wines to our online and trade customers. Out in her trusty VW Caddy, she’s making sure our bottles find their way into the hands of Maud Heath wine lovers everywhere! She’s also been keeping our local Waitrose branches stocked up, so there’s always a bottle of Maud Heath ready to be uncorked. It’s all part of making sure our wines are never too far out of reach—even as the vines themselves take a well-deserved winter break!
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