Our gates are open so come to see us! 
Poulton Hill Estate is in a beautiful location near Poulton, but the work in the vineyard can often be quite lonely as we work individually in the vines. This summer we are throwing open our vineyard gates and welcoming everyone to share this special spot in the Cotswold countryside.
As usual we have our summer Tours and Tastings, which are always incredibly popular. We take a relaxed tour around the vineyard, discussing the history and the process of growing our grapes. We then head into our Cellar Door for a guided tasting, where visitors sample a selection of our wines and also learn about our medal-winning spirits. Due to demand, we are running an increased number of these tours this summer. Visit our website, www.poultonhillestate.co.uk/tours-and-tastings for dates, details and to book.
We also have our Friday Night Summer Specials at the Bulari Bar. Each week over the summer we have a guest caterer come to the vineyard to serve food, and a range of Poulton Hill wines, Cotswold Lakes Brew Company beers and also soft drinks for drivers and children are available from the Bulari Bar. We have loved seeing so many familiar faces and making some new friends at these events. The event runs every Friday until mid-September from 5pm to 9pm and it is free to attend. We have lots of parking, and children and well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Finally, our Cellar Door is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am – 4pm and Saturday from 11am – 3pm. We are always happy to meet customers to talk about our wines and spirits. We also sell wine by the glass, so you can enjoy trying our wines before you buy.
Veraison in the vineyard
In August we undertake canopy management, raising the growing wires to support the vines and pruning leaf cover to allow for air flow. It is when the vines are often at their most beautiful, and we can see our precious fruit starting to grow and change.
Later on in the month we should see the start of veraison, where the vines put energy into ripening and sweetening the grapes, which start to change colour. This happens with both the red and the white grapes but is more obvious in the red as they turn from green to purple.
Once veraison starts we also put nets up over the vines to stop the birds from stealing our delicious ripening grapes. We have found bird nests in the vines before, but these are usually empty by the time we bring down the nets. We also check for any insect life that may be damaging the vines. From the start of veraison, it can be anywhere between 30 to 70 days until the grapes are ready to harvest.
Harvest helpers wanted
Harvest at Poulton Hill can occur anytime from mid-September until late October, depending on the weather and climate in any given year. We love harvest time and are looking for volunteers to share the experience with us.
Harvest days start at around 9am, with a cup of tea or coffee, a biscuit and maybe a small glass of last year’s wine to toast the start of what we hope is another bumper year. Harvest lunch, with wine, is provided for all our workers and volunteers, as are snacks and tea and coffee throughout the day.
We give all the training that is needed and provide clippers. We recommend wearing a pair of gloves as the clippers are sharp and the grape juice is sticky. You do not have to spend the entire harvest with us, but you can pop in for a morning, or afternoon or for a few hours when you have time.
If you are interested in helping out with harvest, please drop us a line at info@poultonhillestate.co.uk. We can’t give you a date when harvest will start yet, but you will be informed nearer the time.
