Pruning 25/26

Pruning: The Wettest Winter Yet 25/26.

Hello from the vines,

This year’s pruning season looked very different to the last. Instead of crisp, still mornings, it’s been weeks of wet ground, heavy air, and boots that never quite dried.

But in a vineyard, the work doesn’t wait for perfect weather.

A season shaped by rain.

From December through to February, the vines sat in their usual winter rest - bare, quiet, and storing energy for the year ahead. Beneath them, though, the ground told a different story.

Every row held water, and moving through the vineyard required patience. Pruning became slower and more deliberate, not something to rush through, but something to work through properly.

Chris, as ever, in his element.

Despite the conditions, this is still where Chris is happiest.

Working steadily down the rows, making thousands (approximately 115,000) of small, considered cuts that shape how the vine grows and how many bunches they’ll produce. It’s where the vineyard really begins each season.

The shift into spring.

And then, almost without warning, everything changes.

Budburst has already begun, and the first shoots are pushing through quickly. After months of muted tones, that early green brings a real sense of movement back to the vineyard.

Now we watch for frost.

With early growth comes a new kind of attention.

Clear, still nights can quickly turn into a risk, and frost is the one thing we can’t control. It’s part of this stage of the season - keeping an eye on the forecast and hoping the conditions stay on our side.

Looking ahead.

With pruning finished, the structure of the vineyard is set.

The vines have started to move again, and the season is properly underway. After the wettest winter we’ve worked through so far, we’re ready for some dry ground and a bit of Cornish sun.