The business
Research
We planted our first field in May 2020 but the work began almost a year earlier. We decided to get ourselves professional advice and guidance from the beginning and attended a Viticulture Event at Plumpton College. It was here that we met up with a business called Vinescapes which is run by Dr Alistair Nesbitt.
Advice and vineyard establishment
Very shortly after we asked for someone to visit our farm, Alistair came out to see us. He had already done some preliminary work to establish if our land was suitable for growing grapes. Alistairs main priority was to ensure that we had the right location and we soon learnt that planting a vineyard would be an expensive exercise, so you don’t want to plant in the wrong location. i.e. the fields need to face the right direction, on a slope preferably and have some degree of protection from the weather. Alistair identified the right fields and rejected others. I am almost certain that some viticulturists would have suggested I plant all my fields, but not Alistair, as only those that were suitable were recommended. This is Alistair and Vinescapes main attribute in my opinion, honesty, as well as the vast knowledge of viticulture.
Vinescapes – The perfect partners for our vineyard business
Vinescapes have been the perfect partner for us in our new adventure, guiding us through the work, recommending suppliers and workman/machinery. We are always able to get hold of them and nothing is too much trouble. Alistair continues to oversee the work and comes out on site with Francis whenever necessary and behind the scenes in the office, Paula, their business manager (and everything else) is a gem.
Tanhurst Estate in the Surrey Hills