SEVENTEEN new rows of vines, comprising both red and white grape varieties, have been planted at La Mare Wine Estate.
The new vineyard will be over half a hectare in size and is expected to replace the Phoenix and Seyval Blanc varieties, which were more than 50 years old.
The project, led by head winemaker Jordi Sanvicens Moreno and vineyard manager Andrew Smith, saw the planting of 12 rows of Solaris vines, a variety of grape used for producing white wine, with five rows of Regent, a red grape variety.
The Solaris grape is an early-ripening, hybrid grape variety developed to resist disease and is characterised by lush green, circular disk-like leaves. This grape takes around 90 days to ripen, enabling it to thrive in cooler, damper climates such as Jersey.
The Regent grape produces wine that tastes similar to those from the south of Italy. In a good growing year, the fruit is sweet enough to be eaten.
A team of labourers took four days to dig holes and plant the posts necessary for the vines to grow. Steel posts have been used rather than wooden ones as they have lower breakage rates and are more sustainable than their wooden counterparts, as they can be recycled after use.
Mr Moreno said: ‘The careful planning and timely application of each step in the process of vineyard establishment is important not only to hasten the onset of vineyard productivity but also to ensure its long-term productivity. Every single one of the vines will be planted by hand and lovingly cared for.’
