At the Redfold Vineyard in Sussex time is short as the harvest has to be completed while the grapes are in peak condition
Image details
Contributor:
Guy Bell / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
E58GH9File size:
30.4 MB (1.4 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
2588 x 4111 px | 21.9 x 34.8 cm | 8.6 x 13.7 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
30 October 2013Location:
Pulborough, West Sussex, UKMore information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
At the Redfold Vineyard in Sussex time is short as the harvest has to be completed while the grapes are in peak condition - indeed this week has been critical. With the boom in wine production in Southern England eastern European workers are brought in at peak times, in this case from Romania. They work quickly, almost too fast for the German pressing machine to keep up. They are mostly farmers at home but with a bleak economy there they have to boost their income by leaving their families and coming here for a few weeks. The result will be Ambriel, a new English sparkling wine, made by husband and wife team, Charles and Wendy Outhwaite. They planted 9.5 hectares of vines on South-facing greensand slopes overlooking West Sussex’s South Downs in April 2008. The vineyard is planted with traditional champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and has now produced three consecutive vintages with the help of winemaker Kobus Louw. Oak barrels from Burgundy are also used to mature some of the wines to give added complexity to the final blend. Once blended and bottled the wines are stored on-site in temperature-controlled conditions and left undisturbed to evolve on their lees for a minimum of 24 months.