May 2025 : Beyond the Vines
May is a special time in our vineyards. The vines are coming back to life after their winter rest, and everything around them seems to be waking up too. Birds are settling in the hedgerows, bees are buzzing through the grass, and wildflowers are blooming between the rows. It’s a moment when the vineyard shows its wild side .
One of the loveliest sights in the vineyard right now is the sweep of oxeye daisies — or moon daisies, as we always call them — blooming between the rows. Their white petals and golden centres catch the light and dance in the breeze, softening the neat lines of the vines. They might look delicate, but they’re tough little things — and they’re doing important work too, attracting pollinators and playing their part in the ecosystem.
These wildflowers are a real gift for pollinators — full of nectar and pollen just when bees and other insects need it most. And the fact that they’re thriving here tells us a lot: the soil’s in good shape, and we’re not disturbing the land more than we need to. Letting the daisies do their thing isn’t just about looks — it’s part of how we keep the vineyard balanced and full of life.
And then there are the dandelions — those bright yellow bursts that light up the vineyard floor. They’re often seen as weeds, but not too us. They’re one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, giving bees and hoverflies an early food source when there’s not much else around.
They’re helping below ground, too. Dandelions have long taproots that dig deep into the soil, breaking it up and pulling up nutrients that benefit everything growing nearby — including the vines. So while they might not look fancy, they’re quietly doing a lot of good.
But May also brings its share of work. To help the vines thrive, we start spraying the vineyard to protect them from pests and disease. It’s an important part of keeping everything in balance and giving the vines the best possible start to the season.
From now until harvest, regular spraying becomes one of our key tasks. As the growing season picks up pace, warm and often damp conditions create the perfect environment for fungal diseases like downy mildew — so staying one step ahead is essential.
We use our narrow Fendt tractor, which is ideal for our closely spaced vines. Its slim frame allows us to navigate the tight rows with ease, making the spraying process more precise and efficient, while minimising any disturbance to the plants or the soil.
Right now, we’re enjoying an unusually warm start to May. It’s a great way to kick off the season — encouraging rapid growth and early development — but it also brings its own challenges. Extra warmth means extra vigilance, so we’re keeping a close eye on the vines and adjusting our plans as needed to stay ahead of the curve.