Work begins at the start of the first grape harvest of the season at Ryedale Vineyard on September 28, 2013 near Westow, England. The family run Ryedale vineyard is set on the south facing slopes at the foot of the Yorkshire wolds and is the most northerly commercial vineyard in England growing over ten thousand vines an is spread over two sites with the largest blocks of vines being Ortega for white wine and Rondo for rose and red wine.
The grapes are all hand picked by members of the family and will eventually go on, via their winery, to produce some of the best home produced wine in the country….
You can see more info on the vineyard here….. http://www.ryedalevineyards.co.uk/
Early morning mist burns off over Ryedale Vineyards
Ryedale Vineyards
White grapes hang on the vine ready for harvesting
Red grapes hang on the vine ready for harvesting
Triomphe vines
Seigerrebe vines
Chardonnay vines
Pinot Meunier vines
A Union flag flies over the vineyards of Ryedale
Vineyards at Ryedale
Pinot Gris vines
Vineyards at Ryedale
Early morning sun shines over the vineyards at Ryedale
Stuart and Elizabeth Smith owners of Ryedale Vineyards and their dog ‘Beth’
Stuart and Elizabeth Smith owners of Ryedale Vineyards
Stuart Smith owner of Ryedale Vineyards inspects the first grape harvested this year
Stuart Smith owner of Ryedale Vineyards walks between the vines inspecting the grape before the first harvest begins
Stuart Smith, owner of Ryedale Vineyards uses a refractometer to check sugar levels of the grape
The view through a refractometer showing the sugar levels of the grape…..around 93 percent in this case. Which is good.
Elizabeth Smith checks grape quality as she harvests the first grapes this year
Elizabeth Smith from Ryedale Vineyard
Fresh off the vine – part of this year’s first crop to be cut
Stuart Smith moves crates full of freshly harvested grapes to be loaded into his van
Elizabeth Smith uses a sledge to help with moving the crates of grapes
A full crate ready for loading
Stuart Smith loads his van with the first crop of grapes from this years harvest
Son in Law Jeff Bennett helps with the harvest
Stuart Smith looks on as his grandson Stephen Bennett helps out with the harvest
Stuart Smith, owner of Ryedale Vineyards looks out over his vines during the first harvest of the year
Elizabeth Smith stands amongst the vines during the harvest
Elizabeth Smith walks amongst the rows of vines during the harvest
Sarah Bennett drags crates full of grapes to be stacked ready for loading
Jeff Bennett carries grapes to be loaded onto transport
Ryedale Vineyard’s family business…from left, Sarah Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Elizabeth and Stuart Smith and Jeff Bennett…and ‘Beth’ the collie.
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