In 2006 we planted a vineyard on land we own near our cemetery which is of very poor soil quality but is ideally suited for the production of grapes for wine. This project has been designed to minimise day to day care and once the Priory is again used for regular Retreats we envisage that guests, friends and parishioners with gather with us periodically to tend the vines and gather the grapes as a community. We are growing two varieties of wine making grape - pinot noir and chardonnay. We have also planted 70 table grapes - a (white) Danlass, and 2 red - Alphonse and Cardinal. Dermot Sugrue, formerly of  Nyetimber, our local gold-medal winning vineyard, has advised and worked closely with us on the initial planning. It is our hope that these vines will produce a white sparkling wine and, if we get a really hot growing season, a simple red from the pinot noir.     BUD-RUBBING IN THE PRIORY VINEYARD - JULY 2010     25 helpers arrived in the vineyard on the afternoon of Tuesday 6 July to help tuck the rapidly growing vines inside the trellis wires and clip the wires together. This was urgently needed to prevent wind and tractor damage to the fruit-bearing canes. Many thanks to all who came.   The vines will need checking now throughout the season to make sure they are staying inside the wires. Anyone who feels like it is welcome to walk the rows and tuck in any strays they came across - but not if the spraying warning signs are out.         CHARDONNAY GRAPE HARVEST OCTOBER 2009   Our crop of chardonnay grapes harvested on 10 October was even bigger than the previous week's crop of pinot noir grapes - 2,250 kilos! Many thanks to all who helped!   Our grapes have now been sent off to be processed by Dermot Sugrue.     Just a sample of the 2,250 kilos of chardonnay grapes picked!   Above: Fr Paul, the Prior of Storrington. Below: Some of the harvesters.   Our bird-scaring tactics worked well!       Our bumper crop of Pinot Noir grapes were harvested on 3 October! We picked about 1,300 kilos of grapes in about 3 hours!     Just a few of the many 1,300 kilos we picked!     Some of the pinot noir grape pickers         SEPTEMBER 2009       We had a scarecrow show on 6 September. For pictures click here     JUNE 2009 Above and below right: Terry and Mary Lane fighting with the drainage pipe Below left: Bill Arter moving shingle   MAY 2009 Bud rubbing in the Priory Vineyard     FEBRUARY 2009 The snow-covered Priory Vineyard on Candlemas - 2 February 2009   We have an entry now - and a very favourable report - in the newly published 'Wine: A Guide to the Wines of England and Wales', by Philip Williamson, David Moore and Neville Blech. Publisher: BTL Publishing Limited (20 Nov 2008).   We have also been included in a map entitled, 'The Vineyards of England and Wales' published by English Wine Producers.     OCTOBER 2008 - FIRST GRAPE Harvest Our Chardonnay grapes   AUGUST 2008 update Our grapes, both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, are growing well.   Photos of the laying of the drainage ditch in the vineyard     July 2008 update      The vines are growing well and many will bear fruit this year. Such was the strength of growth that we had to do a second bud-rubbing and removal of lower growth towards the end of June. This is now completed and all we need do for the moment is tuck the growing branches between the wires and keep the grass cut.       Some early photos of our vineyard's beginnings in 2006 Planting the vines with laser technology Putting in place protection from rabbits Putting in place protection from rabbits Part of our newly planted vineyard in July 2006 View of the downs from the newly-built equipment cabin The newly-built equipment cabin One of our first vines in the summer of 2006 ... and a few weeks later!