Diary of a Dorset Vineyard
Diary of a Vineyard
Two years ago saw the final planting of ‘Ansty’ vineyard, we now have 34 hectares (84 acres) and over 100,000 vines planted. With each vine needing pruning, tying down, bud rubbing, wire lifting, tucking in and harvesting by hand, this adds up to more than 500,000 personal interactions by the vineyard team and contract workers throughout the year. This level of detail and intimate knowledge of the vines allows Becky and the vineyard team to monitor and manage the vineyard in the best possible way. We’re nearly halfway through the year and the vintage is shaping up nicely. We asked Becky to give us some insight into the 2026 growing season so far.
"This season has begun much like 2025: warm and wet through the winter months, followed by a dry and sunny spell from April onwards. Budburst was uncommonly early once again, and we were very fortunate to escape the frost that affected so many vineyards across the UK this year. Despite the lack of rain in April and May, the vines are growing rapidly, and the vineyard team have worked hard to complete shoot thinning ahead of the first wire lift, which began this week."
"We have also begun two new trials this year to support both vine resilience and soil health: a foliar-applied seaweed treatment, harvested and fermented in Devon, and a humic acid drench. We will be monitoring the effects of both over the coming years and hope to see a meaningful improvement that would allow us to continue with these applications."
We choose to be proactive and targeted in our vineyard management, which in turn minimises chemical intervention. We are diligent in managing the vines’ canopy, regularly trimming and stripping leaves to maintain airflow in the rows. This meticulous attention to detail is how our vineyard manager Becky and her team consistently produce such top quality fruit.
"Flowering is now only a few weeks away, and we’re all keeping our fingers crossed that we move through this important milestone safely, so we can begin looking ahead to harvest 2026 with confidence. Our Vineyard Apprentice will be taking inflorescence counts next week, giving us our first indication of crop volumes. If the weather remains warm and sunny, we could be in for another exceptional year."
Self Guided Vineyard Tour & Tasting
Taste 3 of our award winning wines, and stroll around our stunning vineyard at your own pace learning about the growing process here at Langham. This tour is designed for those who might not want to commit to a full 2 hour guided tour and prefer to explore in their own group.
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