PRIORY VINEYARD - CANONS REGULAR OF PRÉMONTRÉ - OUR LADY OF ENGLAND PRIORY - STORRINGTON

 

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 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.

Chardonnay grapes in the Priory Vineyard

Pinot Noir grapes in the Priory Vineyard

 

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!