On 10 October 2023, Gusbourne completed its harvest across its Kent and Sussex sites – its biggest crop to date.
Analysis of the grape bunches enabled Gusbourne to determine the perfect moment to begin picking, which this year was 22 September. Mary Bridges, Head Winemaker said, “That spell of warm weather got the grapes into a great spot. We noticed amazing balance in the grapes when we tasted them off the vine: the sugar, the acid, the concentration of flavour, the structure and ripeness.”
Aiming to hit this sweet spot with every bunch, the vineyard team used Mary’s data to dictate where to pick. This meant harvesting parcel by parcel, not vineyard by vineyard. The logistics were complex, but “the team are incredibly experienced”, said Mary.
Laura Rhys, Master Sommelier, has tasted both the fresh juice and some of the early ferments. She said, “I’m feeling very positive about what I’ve tasted so far. Across the different grape varieties, there’s already lovely expressiveness. I’ve just tasted the early ferments and they are delicious. I’m looking forward to blending – we’re going to see some very exciting wines.”
Gusbourne look forward to releasing this vintage in the years to come. In the meantime, visitors are invited to explore Kent vineyards to taste the current releases and to learn more about how Gusbourne produce their award-winning, exclusively vintage wines.
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