Winter pruning, alongside its associated vineyard tasks, is the second-largest operation in our annual vineyard cycle at Newick Wine Estate, both in time and resources. It has a direct influence on yield, fruit quality, and the long-term health of the vines. Poor pruning decisions made in winter do not correct themselves and they carry financial and structural consequences for years. In the UK’s cool climate, the purpose of grapevine pruning is not simply to reduce
The 2025 growing season at Newick Wine Estate will be remembered as both our first cropping year and an exceptional vintage. It was characterised by above-average heat and low rainfall, recording 1,088 growing degree days compared to 888 in 2024, alongside 507 mm of rainfall versus 807 mm the previous year. While conditions were largely favourable, the season presented notable challenges at both the beginning and end of the vintage. Budburst occurred earlier than in
Why did we plant a vineyard? It’s a good question, and one we often ask ourselves! The vineyard was planted in the spring of 2023 on 8.5 hectares (about 20 acres) of land that we own in Newick. We have lived at Ketches in Newick since 2007 (and lived in The Twitten House next door from 2000 until we moved into Ketches). The Ketches land was let for a peppercorn rent to a local farmer