Sheep, sparkling wine and strawberries

February is another busy month for the vineyard as we continue to get on with winter pruning. The weather has not been our friend: the constant rain in January has made work a lot slower.

We have also had to keep an eye on drainage as we do not want excess water to cause soil erosion. One way we can help is by letting our Black Jacob and Babydoll sheep roam around the vineyard in the winter months, while the vines are dormant. The sheep not only help to fertilise the soil, but their hooves help to keep the vineyard floor well drained.

The sheep are part of our biodynamic approach. They keep weeds and grass down, reducing the need for pesticides, and they also nibble on the roses that we plant at the end of each row of vines, saving on pruning. Roses are traditionally planted in vineyards as an early warning system as they attract insects such as aphids before the vines, and they also develop fungal diseases such as black rot and mildew before they reach the vines.

Once the vines start to show the first signs of life in spring, the sheep move to pastureland to protect our precious buds and leaves.

 

Our sparkling recipe for lovers

Valentine’s Day is traditionally associated with champagne and chocolates, but why not shake it up a little this year with a sparkling wine cocktail? It does not have to be difficult or time-consuming as one of our favourites is a Valentine’s Strawberry Sparkling Wine cocktail, made with our Bulari Brut sparkling white wine.

Simply puree some strawberries and add a squeeze of lime, then add a spoonful or two to a tall champagne flute. Pour over some chilled Bulari and serve. You can buy our Bulari online or pop along to our Cellar Door to see us.

If you are looking for something to serve with it, Bibury Trout Farm has a brilliant recipe for Beetroot and Gin Gravadlax on its website. You can always substitute the gin for Poulton Hill’s Sloe de Vie as well. You can find the recipe at the bottom of the “How to buy” section at www.biburytroutfarm.co.uk

If you would like to learn more about Poulton Hill Vineyard, why not come to see us at the Cellar Door? We are open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.