August in the Vineyard: The Countdown to Harvest Begins

As we head into the final stretch of August, there’s a real sense of excitement building here at the vineyard. We’re approaching one of the most critical times in the growing season, veraison. This is the stage where the grapes begin to ripen, changing colour, softening, and building up the sugars that will eventually determine the style and character of our wines.

The vineyard is a patchwork of changing colours at the moment, and while it’s beautiful to see, it’s also a reminder that the countdown to harvest has truly begun. With veraison underway, every decision we make now will have a direct impact on the quality of the fruit we bring in.

Veraison in our Pinot Noir variety

Beautiful August Sunset

We’ve been busy preparing, carefully managing the canopy, making sure the fruit is getting just the right balance of sunlight and airflow, and keeping a close eye on ripeness levels. Our vineyard manager, Alex, is out in the vines weekly, testing the grapes for sugar levels and tartaric acidity (TA). These readings are essential in helping us determine when to harvest, aiming for the perfect balance of ripeness, freshness, and flavour.

Alongside all this vineyard activity, it’s also been a full and exciting month of tours, tastings, and events here. We've loved welcoming so many of you to the estate, sharing our wines, talking through the winemaking process, and enjoying the atmosphere of the season together.

Just yesterday, we visited Denbies (our winery) for a catch up and some early conversations about the wines we’re hoping to craft from this year’s harvest. It’s always fascinating to start dreaming about what’s to come, each vintage brings something new and unexpected, shaped by the weather, the vineyard, and the season’s unique rhythm.

We’re so looking forward to sharing more with you as harvest approaches. It’s almost time!