FRIENDS and staff members rallied round when the harvest at Danebury Vineyard was brought forward by about a week.
Recent balmy weather had ripened the grapes quicker than at first estimated. Estate manager Patrick Westrop had originally arranged for about 100 pickers but in the end had to manage with half that number.
The estate harvests five varieties of grapes. Auxerrois and Rulander are used in the production of Danebury's sparkling wine Cossack, with Patrick Westrop 'very confident' that 2001 will be a 'very good vintage'.
The Schonburger grapes go to make Danebury's still wine with another good report being received from the winemakers who receive the harvested grapes.
The final two varieties harvested were Madelaine and Angevine.
The estate has probably reached its maximum output with the last vines being planted in 1996 and there are no plans to plant more. The estate is owned by Austrian Ernst Piech.
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