Vintage notes · 21 August 2026 · 4 min read
Veraison 2026: the slope with six weeks to go
The grapes have turned colour, the nets are going on and the 1979 block is carrying its best crop in five years. A report from the rows.
Veraison is the week the vineyard changes its mind. For months the Pinot Noir bunches have been hard and green; then, over a few days in August, they soften and start to colour, one berry at a time, until a single bunch can carry every shade from lime to near-black.
This year it arrived on the 14th of August on the lower slope and five days later at the top. That is almost a week earlier than the ten-year average, and the reason is simple: a warm, dry June, when the vines flowered quickly and evenly.
What the numbers say
We sample every block twice a week from now until picking. On the 20th the Pinot Noir from the 1979 block was at 11.2% potential alcohol with bright acidity, which for this date is the healthiest reading we have recorded. The Chardonnay on the top rows is a little behind, as it should be.
What happens next
The nets go on this week, before the blackbirds notice. After that it is a matter of watching the weather. A dry September gives us the choice of when to pick; a wet one makes the choice for us.
If the next six weeks behave, we expect to start picking Chardonnay for sparkling around the 25th of September and finish with the old-vine Pinot in mid-October. We need around 25 pickers for two weeks. If you would like to join us, there is a sign-up on the contact page.
Visiting during harvest
The cellar door stays open throughout, and the vineyard tour runs as normal, with the difference that you will see the crates coming in. It is the best fortnight of the year to visit, and the most booked, so plan a couple of weeks ahead.
