If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to know more about the world behind your glass of Ridgeview English sparkling wine – harvest holds all the clues.
Read on to discover why, with our harvest highlights from Ridgeview’s specialist team on the ground.
Harvest is the culmination of an entire year of dedication in the vineyard. A crucial milestone when our grapes transform into wine, it marks a new phase in the evolution of Ridgeview’s sparkling wines of the future. It’s full of promise, anticipation and excitement, yet rests so delicately on one precious moment in the year.
Nothing beats the buzz about the vineyard in the run up to the harvest period – it’s full of weather-watching, whispers of when it will start and the wonder about the wine it will produce.
Harvest both passes in a flash and lasts for an agonising eternity, balancing on a knife-edge at the mercy of the weather.
It’s an intense period of collaboration between our vineyard and winemaking teams, united by one shared purpose – to produce world-class sparkling wine, working together with passion and care.
The tanks are prepared, ingredients are stocked and our press-loader teams are trained and briefed.
This year we are excited to have installed new oak barrels from France in the winery, toasted on the inside to enhance the delicate qualities that barrel-fermentation adds to the Ridgeview Oak Reserve.
Our winery team have rehydrated the barrels after their long journey to Ridgeview, ready for their first use in 2021.
Monitoring the pH and sugar levels of the grapes is crucial and we’re constantly scrutinising the quality and characteristics.
We measure ripeness through appearance, taste, juice samples, bunch weights and complex analysis in the lab.
Picking the right time to harvest is a science in itself.
There’s a very short window of time when everything aligns and it’s vital to act in an instant.
Row by row, our harvest team carefully hand-pick grape bunches ready to be taken to the press.
The moment the grapes are picked, the clock is ticking to press them to ensure the highest quality of juice.
It’s one of the many joys and challenges of working in collaboration with nature.
Harvest insights from our team who make the magic happen.
“At harvest there is an unwavering motivation … someone, somewhere in the future will be enjoying a glass of Ridgeview’s exceptional wine and it all starts with these grapes.”
– Matt Strugnell, Vineyard Manager
HOW DO YOU PREPARE?
A huge focus of my role is to train our press loaders and cellar hands. It’s not just information and instructions, it’s about bonding together as a team. We’re loading 400 tonnes of grapes by hand and good relationships are what you draw on when it’s 1am and you’re soaking wet!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART?
The smell of the winery when everything is fermenting…and the sounds are beautiful too. It’s the gentle noise of the ferments whirring and the bubbles coming through the airlocks. It taps in to all the ‘other senses’ to hear and smell the wine being made – that’s quite an amazing thing.
DESCRIBE HARVEST IN THREE WORDS
Sugary, damp and beautiful
WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING PART?
Rain on a night-shift. There’s no sun to dry you off.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NIGHT-SHIFT…
It takes a lot more resilience and a deep love of winemaking to see you through. It’s dark, you’re soggy and there’s not much glamour involved. But I do enjoy it as a slightly quieter time where I have more focus to nurture and guide the team. It’s important to me that they have the opportunity to learn and get the most out of this unique experience.
DO YOU HAVE A HARVEST MANTRA?
In my first ever job I got told “if you have time to lean you have time to clean” and I’ve carried that around with me ever since. There’s always something interesting to be doing at harvest and it’s important to get stuck in.
TOP TIP TO YOUR TEAM
Bring spare socks – it will get damp and soggy and you’ll regret it if you don’t.
HARVEST DREAM VERSUS REALITY…
It takes a particular type of person who doesn’t mind getting wet, cold and dirty. You have to have vision. The grapes don’t just magically turn in to wine – there’s a lot of hard work and dedication involved. But harvest is such an essential part in the winemaking process – arguably the most important. The choices you make now have the potential to influence the characteristics and qualities in the future and it’s so rewarding to play a part in that.
YOUR FAVOURITE PART IS…
Things get exciting when we start to receive the grapes. I love taking a first look, checking them over and seeing the quality. But I think the real thrill begins when the grapes are pressed and it turns to juice. That’s when I start to truly see it as wine.
AND THE WORST PART…
Cleaning! There are so many grape skins and stalks…it’s a messy business.
DOES TEAM WORK REALLY MAKE THE DREAM WORK?
It’s essential to operate as a team, otherwise it just wouldn’t work. But it’s not just about necessity…we all thrive on helping each other out and working collaboratively. We share the highs and lows together.
WHAT’S YOUR HARVEST MOTTO?
Speed is key – it’s important not to hold things up. If I have a spare moment, then it’s time to help someone else out. It happens in a flash and there’s no time to rest.
WHAT’S THE CHALLENGE?
Keeping an eye on all of the different jobs and team members. Harvest is full of fast-paced, energetic teamwork and it’s all hands to the deck. I’m focused on maintaining a slick, seamless and quality-driven process whilst also ensuring everyone is supported and happy. There’s a lot at stake and that’s both exciting and stressful.
THE HARVEST DREAM VERSUS REALITY…
It’s definitely not romantic in the traditional sense. You’re cold and drenched, it’s full of hard work, heavy lifting and the grapes keep on coming…but it’s so worth it. Nothing beats the sense of pride knowing that you’ve been a part of it all.
DESCRIBE HARVEST IN THREE WORDS
Fun, organised chaos.
We are particularly proud that 2021 marks the first harvest since both our vineyard and winery have been awarded Wine GB’s Sustainable Wines of Great Britain trademark. This accreditation recognises Ridgeview’s commitment to environmental sustainability through reducing our carbon footprint, promoting biodiversity and using minimal intervention methods in our viticulture and winemaking. We believe that ‘Life is for Celebrating’…and that includes animal and plant life too!
Experience Ridgeview in a whole new way with our debut Still Chardonnay. Bursting with vibrant fruit flavours and elegant floral notes, our new still Chardonnay charts exciting new horizons for world-class English winemaking.
Complex, deeply layered and deliciously food-friendly, it’s made for bringing people together and savouring life’s special moments over a sumptuous dish or two. Now available online or at our vineyard restaurant, The Rows & Vine.
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We hope you enjoyed the delicious Dr Will’s dressings included in your Spring case — the perfect partner to your Ridgeview moments! To keep the flavour flowing, here’s a 15% discount code to use on Dr Will’s products all year round: DRWILLS15
T&Cs: Valid year‑round for OurView members and redeemable multiple times.
Whether you’re heading to Covent Garden for a day of shopping or catching a performance, pause for something special this July at the Royal Opera House’s Piazza Restaurant and Terrace Bar. As an OurView member, enjoy a complimentary glass of Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV for you and up to three guests when dining from the à la carte menu, with one of London’s most iconic views. Did you know? Our Blanc de Blancs 2006 was crowned Best Global Sparkling Wine by Decanter in 2010 at the Royal Opera House itself. Today, Ridgeview is the only English sparkling wine poured there. Just show your OurView card to redeem. We recommend booking ahead.
T&Cs: Offer includes one complimentary glass of Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV for you and up to three guests (18 years+) – Offer valid from 4th – 27th July 2025, subject to availability – To redeem the offer, you must dine from the à la carte menu at the Royal Opera House Piazza Restaurant or Piazza Terrace – Booking & walk-ins: Reserve via the Royal Opera House website and pop your OurView number in the special requests box. Whether booked or walking in, just show your OurView card to claim the offer – You must be an active OurView member (with a current Direct Debit Mandate or pre-paid annual membership) – One use per visit. Multiple member cards cannot be combined for additional glasses – Glasses cannot be exchanged for other Ridgeview wines unless agreed with staff on the day – Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.
OurView members and up to three guests can indulge in a complimentary glass of Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV when dining at Ockenden Manor for lunch; a stunning Elizabethan manor with an award-winning restaurant, and a relaxing spa, all set in eight acres overlooking Cuckfield Park. Simply book lunch for you and up to three guests and soak up the elegant atmosphere with exceptional food and wine.
T&Cs: Offer includes one complimentary glass of Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV for you and up to three guests (18 years+) – Offer is valid until 31 October 2025, subject to availability – Offer valid for lunch bookings, 7 days a week, at Ockenden Manor’s main restaurant when dining from the Lunch Menu, Sussex Menu, or Sunday Lunch – Bookings must be made in advance by emailing [email protected] with at least 3 days’ notice. Ridgeview will coordinate bookings; direct reservations or walk-ins are not eligible – You must be an active OurView member (with a current Direct Debit Mandate or pre-paid annual membership) – One use per visit. Multiple membership cards cannot be combined for additional glasses – Glasses cannot be exchanged for other Ridgeview wines unless agreed by staff on the day – Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.
We have teamed up with The Gingerman Group to offer you and up to 3 guests a complimentary glass of Bloomsbury NV with a table reservation at one of their 4 restaurants. The Gingerman Group started in 1998 with its flagship Brighton restaurant The Gingerman and now have 3 more restaurants including The Ginger Fox, Ginger Pig and The Flint House and are widely considered to be amongst the best restaurants in Brighton. Simply email [email protected] with your reservation details. Your wine club manager will make the reservation on your behalf and send you the email confirmation.
T&C’S – One glass of Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV for OurView member and up to 3 guests – You must have an active OurView membership – OurView members can only redeem the offer through emailing [email protected] to make the table reservation – 3 days notice is required to make your booking with the restaurant – This offer is not redeemable for direct reservations or for walk-ins – Offer available 7 days a week, available at all Ginger Group Restaurants including: Gingerman Restaurant (Brighton), The Ginger Pig (Hove), The Ginger Fox (Hassocks) and The Flint House (Brighton).
Stay a while at The Rows & Vine, where beautiful views, seasonal plates and award-winning sparkling wines come together in one unforgettable setting.
Check availability and book your table
Restaurant reservations and tours are booked separately. We recommend checking table availability for your date, then booking your tour and reserving your table.