Priory Vineyard

Canons Regular of Prémontré, Our Lady of England Priory, Storrington, UK

We have 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.

Pruning - January 2008:

April 2007 - Slashing and burning the brambles around the perimeter of the vineyard

April 2007 - Terry and Mary Lane laid the decking in front of the equipment chalet

Posts to support wires were placed in the rows of vines in the Priory Vineyard at the beginning of March

Some early photos of our vineyard's beginnings

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

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