Stopham success story

Simon Woodhead had a thought whilst living in Spain. That he would come back to the UK and import Spanish wine. Luckily for us this didn’t work out as he decided to get his hands in the soil and create his own vineyard. After three years at Plumpton College studying Viticulture, he began planting his own vines. Initially with investment from friends and family, 18 years later he is now the proud owner of 20 thousand grape vines in the heart of Sussex.

I visited Simon in what initially looked like a jumble of Fittleworth stone farm buildings, but after knocking on the door, I was led into a palace of stainless steel tanks, complex machinery, hoses and pipes running in different directions.

“Before we go out into the fields” said Simon, “let me show you round”.

Simon explained the wine making process. “We put our grapes into this chamber to extract the liquid, and clarify the juice. At harvest time in October, we can do up to three presses a day, each one handling three tonnes of grapes. We then press the juice, fill the tanks, clarify this very sweet juice, add the yeast and within a day or two it starts fermenting, bubbling away.” He points up to enormous stainless steel chambers. They look like the great pillars of a modern temple to Bacchus. In another room there are oak barrels which are also used.

“Once we add yeast and let it ferment, with CO2 sensors monitoring the CO2 output, activating chillers to preserve the liquid. There can be up to 5000 litres in one tank alone!”

“Sometimes if a the harvest is low, because of a cool summer, we need to add some grape sugar to counter excess acidity, though we haven’t needed to do this in the last 5 years.. We need to do this to bring the potential alcohol up to 11%.

He talks about the challenges going grapes in the UK throws up.

“The hurdles to overcome in growing wine are mainly from God- avoiding the frost just after the vines start growing in April, rain during flowering in June/July, Summer storms and heavy rain, especially if the vines are in flower, and the need for a warm ripening period in September.”

And that famous moment for winegrowers in Spring when late Spring frosts threaten the very survival of the whole year’s grape crop?

 “Traditionally people have put thousands of candles amidst the vines to ward off the frosts, but we have this wonderful water spray machine. It sprays the budding grapes in a fine mist which becomes similar to an igloo round each bunch, and when water freezes it releases energy with keeps the grape buds warm and therefore protected from the frosts!”

After looking at the bottling machine, sterilising equipment and bottle labeller, we head outside, across a grassy field and then to a wonderful view of vines growing on a great hill, with an ancient pine tree in the middle like some Tolkien wizard.

“We mainly do Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Bacchus grapes. We are lucky to have sandy soil and because the grape vines have developed roots up to 6 metres long we don’t have to irrigate. We use local manure and minimal manufactured fertilisers. I don’t like to plow the soil as this leads to erosion, and neither do I want to spray the weeds so we let to grass do its thing, just mowing in between the rows. Yes our yields will be smaller but it is a sustainable, a more gentle way to treat the land. We use biodegradable ties to pin to the wires up to 40 thousands bunches of grapes each year”

We wander up and down the rows. The view of Sussex from the top is wonderful. Occasionally we see the odd rabbit hole at the foot of the vines, and roses planted at the beginning of some of the rows. “Traditionally the roses were the first plant to show the farmers that mildews have arrived. These days we just notice it without needing them, and apply sulphur or copper sprays to the crop”

We make our way back to the farmhouses. I meet a few of the four full time staff and three part staff. Simon opens up a bottle of his wine from one of thousands ready to be sent off. “ We have won some medals over the years. The Pinots are my favourite”

Feeling thirsty, I try to lock myself in the cellar with an empty wine glass but I am dragged out.

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Stopham Wines do wine and food and wine tours which can be booked online  at stophamvineyard.co.uk.

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October in the Garden

Now is the time to move plants around the garden or plant up new ones.

The soil is still warm for the roots to establish but there is less chance of the plants drying out.

You can divide most Perennials now including Rhubarb and balance up your garden by taking the other half to a different place.

You can still plant lettuce and can start sowing Chinese winter greens and Spring Cabbage.

Repairing your lawn can start now with the cooler weather, either using pre grown turfs or seeding into prepared earth.

Your lawn treatment can start this month with aerating the garden with a strong fork and raking out moss and thatch.

Lastly you can cut back shrubs like Buddlea and Lavatera to about half their height to neaten them up and prevent strong winter winds rocking them about- the more fundamental pruning happens in Spring

Perfect time to order and plant bulbs.

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Where to go in October

This is a good time to visit the Knepp estate. Isabella Tree’s pioneering work to rewind a part of West Sussex. You can turn up at the car park (before 5.30pm) and you will be given a map of the rewilded areas. Ring for more information on 014037412235. Great Cafe there these days.

Knepp Estate

West Grinstead,

Horesham RH138LF