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Wherever in the world you do it, growing grapes is something of a rollercoaster; but perhaps none more than in the UK. Even with careful planning, nature has its own momentum and we can’t always anticipate its next curveball. The key dates in the vineyard diary change from year to year, but thankfully they always follow the same order - pruning, budburst, flowering, ripening and finally harvest. We employ a low intervention approach in the winery but our wines start firmly in the vineyard. Vines need careful maintenance throughout the year - and we always listen to what they tell...

A Midsummer Feast in the Kentish countryside. Photographs by @fireandwild. We were thrilled to supply the wine for Fire + Wild Midsummer Feast last month. Their off-grid feasts made with delicious foraged and local produce are truly one off experiences and it’s great to be part of something so sustainable and delicious. We’re looking forward to announcing a vineyard event with them later this summer - watch this space! @ania__sm introducing our amphora aged skin contact Ortega. Photograph by @fireandwild. Guests enjoy a Midsummer Feast in the Kentish countryside. Photograph by @fireandwild. Rabbit and cider croquettes. Photograph by @fireandwild. Westwell Field Blend...

Westwell Dry, an Ortega vermouth collaboration. Photograph by @westwellwines. We’re currently working with Asterley Brothers to produce an English vermouth and hope to announce a release date soon. In the meantime, we’ve been enjoying lots of testing - the vermouth has been produced with 28 botanicals and our Ortega, and it’s absolutely delicious!

Our new planting back in May. Photograph by @westwellwines. Our new plantings have embraced June’s wet weather and now that the mature vines are flowering, the heady forecast of sunshine for the foreseeable future is ideal at what is a critical time of year in the vineyard diary. Tentative but definitive growth. Photograph by @westwellwines. Ortega ripening in the June sunshine, photograph by @westwellwines. New shoots grow very fast and require regular 'tucking in'. Photograph by Ady Kerry.