Our Earliest Harvest to Date

This year, the grape harvest is already underway, marking our earliest harvest since we planted the vines in 2020. Several weeks earlier than usual, there are a number of reasons why harvest has arrived so soon.

In England, we’ve experienced a warm and unusually dry growing season, encouraging the grapes to reach ripeness earlier than usual. Our Solaris was harvested by hand on Tuesday 8th September, once the sugar and acidity levels in the grapes had reached the balance we were looking for.

England is regarded as a cool climate for grape growing, and warmth is valuable as grapes need sufficient heat to ripen fully. Heat alone, though, doesn’t determine the quality of the grapes, so it isn’t as simple as a hot, dry summer will produce better wine. Too much heat can accelerate sugar accumulation and reduce acidity, while severe heat stress can affect the health of the vine.

Our vineyard sits on a south-east-facing slope above the valley floor, where the land is slightly warmer and more sheltered. Soil analysis informed the choice of site and varieties. Solaris is particularly well suited to the Herefordshire soil, despite being a lesser-planted variety in the UK when compared to the likes of Bacchus or Chardonnay. 

The soils in the Frome Valley of Herefordshire are characterised by clay loams, silts and heavier clay soils, with much of the underlying geology formed from Old Red Sandstone, including mudstone. These soils can retain substantial amounts of moisture within the subsoil, which plant roots can access as the soil dries. Clay and silt particles hold water more effectively than sandy soils, helping to maintain moisture availability for longer during dry periods. This can be particularly valuable during drought, such as in 2026, when an unusually warm and dry growing season has placed greater pressure on water availability.

An early harvest isn’t necessarily a sign of a better vintage. Ultimately, the quality of the grapes comes down to the balance between the sugars, acidity and flavour development, and making the right call on when to harvest is crucial. Picking too early can mean insufficient flavour and ripeness, while leaving grapes too long can result in excessive sugar and alcohol that’s difficult to manage when blending.

But what we’re seeing from the Solaris so far is that the weather has encouraged really healthy ripening along with concentrated sugar levels and good flavour compounds giving us plenty to be positive about for this year’s wine. 

As a small-batch vineyard, we harvest entirely by hand, with each variety picked across a single day. Different varieties ripen at different rates, so even within one vineyard there may be a succession of picking dates. At Radlow Hundred, our Solaris is always harvested first, as the Rondo grape needs a little more time to reach full ripeness and allow the sugar levels to develop. 

The yields are expected to be more moderate than in 2025, with the dry conditions contributing to smaller berries. While yield is lower, smaller berries can bring greater concentration, which can be beneficial for flavour development.

Earlier harvests are becoming an increasingly familiar part of English winegrowing as warmer growing seasons continue to shift harvest dates. It isn't just the vineyard that needs to adapt, either. We also need to review bottling schedules, manage differing sugar and potential alcohol levels in the grapes, and continue to advance our work in the vineyard in response to changing weather patterns.

Though there’s a lot of uncertainty around the climate and what this holds for subsequent growing years, one thing is for certain - we’re excited to see what this year’s vintage has in store and how this will evolve the next chapter of English Wine.