Linda Goldfarb was one of 80 volunteers who helped pick 20 tonnes of grapes at Forty Hall Vineyard this month for its earliest-ever harvest season

Forty Hall Vineyard volunteer Linda Goldfarb

Harvest time. The culmination of many months spent tending the vines.

From the somewhat daunting process of the winter prune to the moment the grapes are gently collected, the vines are nurtured by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, of which I am proud to be one.

With a palpable sense of excitement and a buzz in the air, we gather in the field to literally reap the reward of our endeavour. Briefed and with clean snips and bucket in hand, the merry band of volunteers pairs up, heads towards the allocated rows and the fun begins.

Chitter chatter emanates from amongst the foliage, whilst the grapes are carefully picked. Crates are filled and the trusty-ish jeep trundles in the distance. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet and mingle with people from across all of our volunteer groups. In passing, the sound bites of other conversations are fascinating. Some vibrant, some less so, but all valid.

With five grape varieties to pick from 14,000 vines, the harvest is a well-orchestrated process comprising numerous tasks. The yield of gorgeous bunches of goodness is collected methodically, weighed and recorded meticulously and despatched for processing within hours of the pick. Dedicated teamwork.

The harvest brings us all together to share in the success of this amazing social enterprise. Proof that our pruning did the trick and that our work in the fields throughout the year (with the helping hand of ‘mother nature’ and an element of alchemy) really has paid off.

It’s a privilege to be a part of such an incredible project.

Forty Hall Vineyard was planted in 2009 and is London’s first commercial scale vineyard since the Middle Ages. It is a social enterprise which aims to benefit of the community. Wines are available online, from the Forty Hall Farm Shop and at Forty Hall Farmers’ Market on the second Sunday of each month. For more information:
Visit fortyhallvineyard.com

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