HOME + GARDEN
MEET THE GARDENER CONT .
Aside from cultivating the grapes , what other more traditional ( or non-traditional ) gardening / ground management are you responsible for ?
My team are also responsible for the mowing of the grass across all 400 acres , we make sure the rides are clear in the woodland , and we focus a lot on conservation – clearing / planting for wildlife , including planting our wildflower meadows .
What are the biggest considerations when planning a vineyard landscape design ?
Two of the things that you need to think about is where the site is , is it facing south , north , east , or west ? South facing is better , the sun comes up on the south and gives a longer , sunnier period and allows more sun on the vines . The other thing you need to think about is how sheltered the area is . You don ’ t want them too exposed as you open yourself up to frost .
What ’ s the best time of year for visitors to see the vineyard ?
From my point of view there are two opportunities where the vines are at their most beautiful . During autumn , the leaves are changing colour and they look stunning . Late summer is also a great time to visit when the fruit has started to hang down and they go through veraison ( colouring ).
Describe your typical day .
My typical day varies depending on the time of year , with late winter and early spring being one of our busiest ( besides harvest !) vine management times . On an average day then , I arrive on site , check staff are in , check the machines and make sure they fully charged overnight . We then pack up the machines , go up to the vineyard and spend the day tying down canes for the coming season . To do this we lay the canes along the wire and by using one of our machines and placing it on to the cane , two ties wrap around to hold it down to the wire for the fruiting season to begin . We do this daily across 30 acres of vines , for roughly 5 weeks . In between this we stop for a cuppa periodically and I like to pop home
on my lunch break to enjoy another cup of tea with my dogs . At the end of the day , we head back to our shed at the winery and put the machines back on charge to do it all again the next day . I then head home to cook dinner then rest up with a large gin with my partner and dogs .
What ’ s your biggest achievement ?
Back in 2006 we appeared on Countryfile . I remember at the time the orchards hadn ’ t long been planted . This was the first thing I had ever done that I classed as important and a big thing . It was so nice to see the vines and orchards that I had cared for appear on the TV , it was also quite cool seeing where I grew up as a kid appear on the programme .
Do you have a favourite plant / tree ?
I have two . We have one single beech tree on site , and I am quite fond of it . The other is the big oak tree that you can find on the path as you head up to the vineyard , located next to a sitting bench – you wouldn ’ t miss it ! I admire the oak tree every day on my journey to and from the vineyards . Why is it my favourite ? Because it ’ s old and perfect , and to me it represents England .
What ’ s the one plant / tree everyone should have in their garden ?
I would say an English oak tree , but these get far too big for standard gardens , so I recommend only if you have a really large garden ! A more realistic tree would be a Sorbus , also known as Mountain Ash . The berries are great for the birds and in the summer , it looks lovely .
What ’ s your favourite season in the vineyard ?
My preferred season is autumn , I enjoy looking at the colouration of the vines . Autumn is also the time when we harvest , and I get to pick the grapes that I ’ ve watched grow . It also shows the hard graft that my team and I do throughout the year , especially with the amount we harvest .
www . balfourwinery . com balfourwinery
170