Vines

I sorted out the vines, rotavating around them and finally putting up to wires. I started these four years ago but each year some vines succumbed to drought. They are grown from ‘barbatelle’ - cuttings with a beard of roots. They area mix of San Giovese andCarbernet Franc.

Vines take a lot of work, particularly in keeping away mildew and other airborne pathogens, pruning, tieing in, cutting back excess growth never mind the picking and wine making, bottling, distribution etc.

I read awhile back that it takes about £100,000 an hectare to establish a commercial vineyard.