08:12:19
Brushing up on the train on the way there by reading Stephen Skelton's incredibly details book on vinegrowing in the UK.08:13:57
I continued to be amazed at the incredible complexity of just about every aspect of vinegrowing. How hard can trellising be? Surely it's just sticking some posts in the ground and running wire between them?08:25:51
A slightly disturbing reminder of the massive amounts of spray (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides) used in commercial viticulture.13:37:20
Tom, who runs the practical sessions in the afternoons, telling us about trellising systems.
13:44:18
One of the steel posts. Skelton very strongly recommended steel over wood for ease of long term maintenance.14:26:38
Gripples - used for keeping the wires between the posts taut.14:29:10
Tom demonstrating some vineyard gadgets.14:29:17
14:41:37
Out in the vineyard now, and Tom is about to demonstrate grubbing up an old vine.14:41:49
14:45:20
14:46:35
There goes the old vine (Seyval Blanc). A slightly sad moment.
14:47:26
15:01:59
Tom now explaining about tightening the fruiting wires, and tying down post pruning.15:02:02
The tool for tightening the fruiting wires.15:10:19
Tom showing us how to tie down canes post pruning.
15:22:47
An example of powdery mildew.15:32:21
This tool iss used for tying down - although I found the hand ties easier to use.15:34:33
My first bit of tying down.15:34:39
15:48:24
Towards the end of the practical session there was a clap of thunder and then a hailstorm! So we cut things a bit short and headed back at this point.16:12:28
Drenched through, I slopped into the Waitrose in Haywards Heath on the way back to inspect their selection of ESW.16:19:49
My haul of Sussex produce from the Waitrose in Haywards Heath. Bread and cheese also from Sussex. The Kinder Egg isn't.16:27:35
Selfie on Haywards Heath station as I wanted to try and capture how soaking wet I was. You can't really tell from this.
16:35:57
In addition to the Breaky Bottom, I also picked up this bottle of still red wine from Bolney Estate. Made using Rondo and Dornfelder grapes. As always with still reds from England, it was "interesting" but I'm not sure I would buy it again.19:47:53
When I got back home, tickets for Cheltenham Festival had arrived.