Notes from the Vineyard - July 2026
July brought another month of extraordinary weather, with no rain at all and prolonged periods of intense heat. Following the dry end to June, conditions across the vineyard and orchard have become increasingly challenging, with the water table now at its lowest level in the 25 years we have been here.
Keeping the young vineyard watered has therefore become one of our biggest jobs. The tractor and water bowser have been in almost constant use, but despite the difficult conditions the vines are holding up remarkably well and continue to look healthy.
The lack of rain has transformed the rest of the estate too. With barely any grass left for our free-ranging geese, we are now providing supplementary feed several times a day for both the geese and ducks. It is quite a contrast to earlier in the summer, when their help was very much needed to keep up with the rapidly growing grass.
Despite the dry conditions, there has been plenty of wildlife to enjoy. We have seen more swallows than usual this year, including at least two breeding pairs which we believe have each successfully raised two broods. In the late afternoons and early evenings, the main mill pond has been a flurry of activity as the young fledglings swoop over the water — one of the loveliest sights of the summer so far.
July has also been another busy month for visitors. Wine tastings and the new café continue to prove popular, while some of our Cider Barn guests enjoyed a special private dining evening with local chef Craig Barrett of Duchy Chef. Craig brought the restaurant experience to the Cider Barn, serving his signature ‘Fish ’n’ Chips’ starter, followed by Picaña steak from nearby Kilhallon Farm, a lemon posset parfait and a selection of local cheeses. It was a wonderful way for our guests to celebrate together while enjoying an evening at the Cider Barn, and private dining experiences can be arranged directly with Duchy Chef for future stays.
And, after a great deal of work behind the scenes, July brought a milestone we have been looking forward to for a long time: our first wines are finally bottled, labelled and available to purchase. Our inaugural collection comprises four small-batch white apple wines. Visitors can now discover them through our tastings and take home their favourites, and for the first time the collection is also ready to make its way beyond the vineyard as we begin our online sales.
After several years of planting, growing and planning, seeing the finished bottles lined up and ready to be enjoyed feels like a particularly satisfying way to end another busy month at Trenant.
From all of us at Saints Way Wines