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The Vineyard Journal September Edition September in the Vineyard: The Final Countdown September is usually the month when the vineyard begins to feel like harvest is just around the corner. This year, that feeling has arrived earlier than expected. After an extraordinary summer of heat and sunshine, the vines are well ahead of where we would normally expect them to be at this point in the season. England and Wales experienced an exceptionally dry and sunny July, while the wider summer has brought repeated periods of record-breaking heat. Across the English wine industry, growers are reporting healthy vines, clean fruit and encouraging levels of ripening - all pointing towards an early harvest. At Bride Valley, September is therefore all about watching, testing and preparing. The grapes are getting closer by the day, and every decision we make now helps determine when the fruit is ready to come off the vine. Taking the temperature of the vineyard One of the most important jobs this month is bunch sampling. We walk through each block and take completely random samples to build an accurate picture of how the grapes are ripening. To keep things genuinely representative, we choose random numbers for the row, vine an bunch - for example, row 8, vine 14, bunch 5. It doesn't matter whether that particular bunch looks perfect, slightly behind or even completely green. If it is the one the numbers lead us to, it goes into the sample. Once collected, the grapes are tested for pH, sugar level and TA (titratable acidity). Together, these measurements tell us how the fruit is progressing and, importantly, help us decide when the balance is right for harvest. Weighing up the crop Before the samples are crushed and the juice tested, we also weigh them. Bunch weight gives us another useful piece of information when estimating the eventual harvest. Combined with our bunch counts and the size of each block, it helps us build a picture of how much fruit we might expect to bring into the winery. This year, with the dry conditions potentially influencing berry and bunch size, these measurements are particularly useful. Making the cut September is also the time for green harvesting. As the grapes move through véraison and towards full ripeness, we'll be looking carefully for bunches that are significantly behind the rest. Anything that isn't progressing, or shows signs of disease, is removed. It might seem counterintuitive to remove fruit when we're trying to maximise the harvest, but the aim is quality rather than simply quantity. By taking away bunches that aren't going to ripen properly, the vine can concentrate its resources on the fruit that has the best chance of reaching the quality we're looking for. Getting ready for the big one And then there is the less glamorous - but absolutely essential - side of harvest preparation. Crates need cleaning and counting. Harvest scales need calibrating. Snips need sharpening. Tractors, trailers and other equipment need checking. Paperwork needs preparing so that every load can be tracked by variety, block and weight because, once harvest begins, things move quickly. The timing will ultimately be dictated by the grapes themselves. We won't pick simply because the calendar says October. We'll be watching the sugar, pH and acidity closely and waiting for that point when everything comes into balance. After such an extraordinary summer, we're expecting that moment to arrive earlier than usual. A vintage to watch There is already plenty of excitement around the 2026 English vintage. WineGB has described the national outlook as optimistic, with growers reporting good ripening, healthy vineyards and clean fruit after an exceptionally sunny and dry summer. Of course, the final weeks can always change the story. Rain, temperature and conditions at harvest will all play their part. But for now, the vineyard is looking promising - and September is our final stretch before the most important few weeks of the year. Harvest is coming and, this year, it looks like it might arrive sooner than we think! VISIT US Copyright (C) 2026 Bride Valley Wines LTD. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Bride Valley Vineyard. Bride Valley is part of the Electric Pub Company group. Our mailing address is: Bride Valley Wines LTD Bride Valley Vineyard Litton Cheney Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9GE United Kingdom

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