It’s that time of year again when we reap the rewards of months of hard work in the vineyard.

Unfortunately, like many vineyards across Norfolk and Suffolk, we were affected by the late frost that arrived in May. With vineyards at both Swainsthorpe and Spooner Row, we were fortunate that our Spooner Row site escaped the worst of the cold weather. While this year’s harvest is not as abundant as previous years, the quality of the fruit remains exceptional, producing the ripe, flavourful grapes that go into our award-winning wines.

This year’s harvest also marked an exciting milestone with the introduction of a mechanical harvester, pictured above. The machine carefully travelled down each row, gently removing the grapes while leaving the vine structure intact. In previous years, harvesting relied on the dedicated efforts of friends and family who painstakingly hand-picked every bunch. What would have taken days of work was completed in just a few hours, with our first vineyard harvested in under three hours.

Beyond the efficiency gains, we believe the new harvesting process will benefit the quality of our 2026 vintage. By harvesting earlier in the morning, the grapes can be brought in while temperatures are cooler, helping to preserve their freshness, character and flavour before they begin their journey from vineyard to bottle.

As always, we’d like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout the growing season. We look forward to sharing the fruits of this year’s harvest with you in the years to come.