Behind the Scenes for the 2025 Harvest

Each year there comes a special time in every English vineyard’s calendar, that’s the moment of truth for an entire year’s work. September through early October heralds the harvesting of the grapes and is a proud event in British farming. 

Before we begin the harvest, how do we know it’s time to start? There are a few key pointers that signal that the grapes are ready. Usually, there’ll be a colour change in the grapes, where red varieties, such as our Rondo, achieve a deep colour. And white varieties, such as our Solaris, shift to a more golden hue from bright green. Other elements that point to the start of the harvest include the firmness of the grapes, along with the sugar content. 

Once we’re certain it’s time, it’s all hands on deck. This year, the harvest came earlier than usual, with all grapes collected by 19th September. This is most likely due to a warmer and drier summer than is usually expected in the UK. The higher temperatures quicken the ripening of the grapes, meaning they reach the thresholds for flavour, sugar and acidity earlier than in previous years. The drier conditions have also helped to reduce the impact of fungal disease and other setbacks that vineyards experience throughout the growing season. It’s the earliest harvest on record for Radlow Hundred since vines were planted in 2020. Of course, this is also in part due to climate change, which is bringing the earlier warmer temperatures in the spring and drier conditions in the UK. On average, harvests are now 2-3 weeks earlier than historical records throughout Europe and the UK. 

During the harvest, we collect all of the same grape variety within one day, working with trusted and hard-working grape pickers to carefully collect the fruit. It’s a day full of energy, excitement and reward for the care taken of the vines all year round. While we can’t know for sure yet, with the earlier ripening and warmer temperatures we’re expecting wines with even more pronounced fruity notes and a stronger aromatic intensity than in previous years. 

With the future of British farming under increasing pressure, the harvesting of the grapes remains a remarkable time for the Radlow Hundred team, continuing on the seven generations of farming family history behind them. A pivotal moment for any farm, the harvest reminds us why we spend all year investing in our crops and vines, and we ended the day with a toast to everyone’s efforts with a glass of our award-winning English wine, the Rondo 2023 Vintage.

Keep following our news for all the next updates from the vineyard via our blogs or over on Instagram @RadlowHundred.