it has been hard work for the last few days again, because it is soo cold and the snow makes everything harder.
It looks beautiful, but driving and generally doing the work is harder.
My son danny, (12) did not have to go to school on Thursdaay, so he was very happy. he had a friend around who walked from sedlescombe, the next village (about 1/2 hour walking distance).
They went sledging near us, on a loveley sloping field and had a wonderful time.
Its really good, because apart from that they only play on the computer the most stupid shooting game, --Battlefield---.I dont know how we parents put up with it.

Right, lots of office work, accounts etc. Also marketing, sending e-mails to potential customers....difficult.

I got labelling done for Farmers Markets and was pleaed when the snow melted a bit Friday, it meant that the weekends markets were safe. Otherwise no money coming in, much at this time of the year.
Last year has been very bad and we made no money. Still, we had a good harvest and should be bottling our wine in March and the 2009 vintage should be fantastic!

Roy did some wine making, and he let me taste his Bacchus, wonderful Nose and fine, dry aroma. Great little number.

I went to a workshop on Wednesday, very interesting. Maybe something will come out of it.
Its subject was: Regarding tourism in the South East and of course, we are in the "High Weald" in an Area of outstanding Beauty and so we have to and always do tell people how lucky they Are to be able to come and see us and to have the pleasure of the countryside around us. So the more people we can tell about it the better.
One good idea was to have weekends or holdays with a theme: being in our case, English Vineyards Tour (so not just one, but to go to four or five in one weekend!)Brilliant idea.

Hi,
how are you all?
there has been snow here and it is hard to work outside. In January and February I always wished i had a nice, warm office!
We are behind with the pruning and are trying to be all upbeat about all the work!Every year when the season starts, i find it is quite difficult to find the motivation and then after a few weeks it all starts happening.
By about easter i suppose! Although next week its half term and that is always quite good as well. Depending on the weather.
My husband wants to become biodynamic! It means, without going into it too much, a more natural approach, going with the moon and the weather and seasons. A few cowhorns and cow manure play a part as well!
dont think running an organic vineyard is all honey and romance!

hello,

i have had my wine tasting with the Rotarian's! 25 people turned up! They were not interested in walking and looking at the vineyard, only in drinking the wine!
The loved it: Especially our Bodiam Harvest 2009, which is only bottled about 8 weeks now and a medium dry, very fruity wine, made from Reichensteiner + Bacchus Vines.

We also tasted our dry Rose 2009, which is made from our Regent Grapes, a variety we grown in Germany, near the Black Forest. Its an early variety, hardy and a beautiful colour, like raspberries and it tastes like that too!

Then we had some Red Wine: Regent 2008, which is oak matured for 4 months in little oak barrique barrels, which the last cooper in england made up for us .

They also loved our Blackberry Liqueur which tastes out of this World!

We had some oaked organic sheep cheese from High Weald and organic seeded biscuits from Village Bakery. It goes so well together, delicious.

What I was surprised about is that the Cider Vinegar sold like hot cakes.But then there are some really good health benefits: if you take cider vinegar every morning with a little bit of warm water and honey.Look up this website to find out more: www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com

After the group had gone, I had one other young couple from London, it was their first visit to this area and they went to Camber Sands, which is only about 20 minutes from here, near Rye. Lovely beach, the only sandy one for Miles and Miles.

The first time i saw it I thought I was back in Italy, great Sand Dunes and miles and miles of Sand! And the salty Sea air, unbelievable.

Anyway, they had been to camber sands, to Pontins, which is a holiday camp, not terribly good i am afraid.Its alright, but only very basic.
There was some kind of exhibition and they found out that we were close by.
They had never tasted English wines before and loved Red wine.
The red Regent 2008 they adored, even though its much too cold out there in our Shop.

You have to imagine basic and honest: old Barn, we used to make the wine in there and the old Wine Press, 1918 is still in there. A lovely wooden, round wine press, looks like an old Apple Press.

Right , thats it for now.

Hello again!
I am so knackered.
I have been clearing soil away and just generally tidying up. It is amazing how much there is always to be done and I have been out of action for the last 5 months, because i broke my foot on the 23rd august, which was very traumatic.
But I am full of energy for the new season now and today is a lovely sunny day! The birds were singing and it seemed almost springlike , for about 1/2 hour till the sun went behind clouds again.
I have had some customers, which is lovely and they enjoyed the Elderberry wine and the Bramley Liqueur especially.
Tomorrow, Sunday, I have got a group of Rotarian's from Chichester coming for a Wine tasting, which is very exciting as it is the first group of the year.
Middle of February , when it is half term, I have quite a few groups booked, small ones. Because anyone can book for a Tour around and a wine tasting. usually we have some lovely organic cheese to taste from Highweald Dairy (yummy!) and some great seeded organic biscuits.
My lovely Son, Alex(20) has gone back to Bath, to University where he is studying Economics.
He has helped me so much in just two days. He actually set up this Blog because I am not terribly good at the technical things.
We also cut up some wood and had some nice meals, like Trifle, our favorite dessert!
My husband, Roy and our other son, Danny (nearly 12) have gone to Worthing because there is a Tennis tornament going on and Danny is very good at Tennis! In fact, our family is pretty Tennis mad.
Right, the sun is still shining and I need a rest now, very tired. Take care.

Hello to the Organic Vineyard Blog!

Hello Reader !

This is our first Blog ever!
What about that. I am very excited and hope to get some response from you guys. I dont know what i am doing, but it is all great fun.
Right here goes.
We run an organic vineyard here in the South east, in east sussex , near hastings: 7 miles north of it. Hastings is by the seaside, great beaches and great for Holidays because you get the best Fish and Chips you have ever had in your life.
I came from Germany 25 years ago and could not believe the Beauty of the Place. And the fresh Air, out of this world.
Now to the Facts: if you think growing organic grapes and making wine is very glamourous, you are quite mistaken. Its very hard work, but also amazingly satisfying.
And, of course, plenty of lovely wine to drink.
With all this hard work, you need lots of help and we have had such lovely helpers over the last 25 years!
We are members of the organization WWOOF: Willing Workers on organic Farms, and that has been amazing for us. We could not have survived for so long without such lovely students, from all over the world. They usually stay 1 week or 2 weeks in a Caravan, and help us with all aspects of the work at the time.
Lets say at the moment (February 2010): It has been a very hard January, I don't have to tell you about all the snow, etc. So it meant we could not prune the vines out in the vineyard yet, we have just started two days ago!
Two lovely helpers from Germany are staying with us at the moment. They love wine and all aspects of it and are taking a course at the Plumpton Agricultural College for two years.
At the end of that, they will have a certificate and they can go anywhere in the World and run a Vineyard! How great is that!
I think you will need to hear some more about How it all started!

There once was this german chick, 24 years old, met this lovely English bloke, 35 years with an turquoise old morris minor (Car) telling me he had a vineyard in England! I thought that was a great pick-up line, but once I visited him in England, I totally fell in love with the Place and still am.
Its peaceful , right down the bottom in a quiet place, 10 acres of beautiful countryside and a gorgeous 1 acre wood! You can even play Pooh sticks (we are not far from that wood).
There was one vineyard here and we planted more vineyards together and Roy made the Wine.
I always liked the wine he made, but friends and customers tell me that, of course, the wine is much better now. We were always organic, from beginning on.
What does that mean? No weedkillers, no systemic sprays and a lot less sulphur--much better for these hangovers and headaches! Its soo clean and tasty , its quite difficult to stop because it tastes so good! Dont i know it. We make White Wine, Rose Wine, Red wine , Bubbly , Liqueurs and also Apple Wine, Elderberry and Cider.
I am just so proud of it all, the wine and wine making, the vineyard and the House we built !
With a group of 20 people, only 4 of which knew what they were doing!! We built it in 3 weeks, I will find some pictures to show in a few days!It looks like a swedish wooden house. We did do B&B for one year, but then we had lovely baby Alex (now a strapping lad of 20!) and had to stop doing that.
We do have a vineyard shop here and meet fantastic people all year long. Even in January! I had some people from Texas on Holiday here in little old England, enjoying the great Sussex Flair...old houses and little country lanes.
Right i am stopping for now, cooking dinner :organic curry!! and chickpea stew..
great, talk tomorrow. bye for now