How to Establish a Vineyard - Maintenance with Chris Buckley of VineWorks Part 3

This show was published Friday, November 14, 2025

Overview

In this final interview with Chris Buckley, we cover the essential tasks involved in maintaining a vineyard after planting.

Vineyard maintenance can be managed by a contractor such as VineWorks, a dedicated vineyard manager, or even handled yourself if you have the right knowledge and equipment.

Key machinery includes a tractor, mower, mechanical weeding tool, sprayer, and a trimmer or defoliator. When choosing a tractor, consider your vineyard’s size, ensure it has a cab for comfort, and check that it is narrow enough to fit between the rows (2.5m is a standard row width). New vineyard tractors typically cost between £60,000 and £100,000, though second-hand options are also available.

Appointing an agronomist is highly recommended to help manage disease and pests and to provide tailored advice for your vineyard.

Regular vineyard tasks include pruning, lifting wires, leaf stripping, and, of course, the all-important grape harvest. After harvest, attention turns to the next growing season, as the vines enter dormancy over winter. Pruning at this stage is crucial to manage yields, maintain canopy health, and reduce disease risk for the following season.

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The music used for the UK Wine Show is Griffes de Jingle 1 by Marcel de la Jartèle and Silence by Etoile Noire.