Wyfold. Oxon. Wilting during the day, it was good we only started the vineyard work at 5.30pm.

A good crowd from the office came for an evening of 'tucking in'! This refers to gathering the new branches that have escaped and tucking them back into their wire corset.

But it could also refer to the after work supper. Normally it’s sausages and a nice fire to keep us warm. No fire tonight, but a fantastic paella cooked - or is that 'performed' out in the open. Once again the perfect wine seemed to be a rosé. I had some sample bottles of our Henry's pink. It vanished.



Vineyard looking fit and healthy. Flowering well in the heat. After six years ploughing and rotovating the vineyard is just a sea of stones - a veritable little Châteauneuf! - and yes the stones do retain the day's heat and keep things warm at night.

But you do need that sun. We have it so far!

What a difference from last year!