LOG IN27 October 2005
Reaping the fruits of the vine
Horticultural students at Stourbridge College have just celebrated harvesting their first crop of grapes.
Course tutor Alyn Ainsworth with samples of the grape harvest.
The successful harvest took place at Leasowes Park Centre.
Staff and students planted around 100 Rondo vines in April 2003 and the following year they pruned the vines and trained them along horizontal wires.
This method, known as the Guyot system, produces vertical shoots, which then produce grapes.
The Rondo vine is German and will produce a dark ruby red, full-blooded wine. Phoenix vines have also been planted, and will yield a white wine in October next year.
After the harvest, the grapes were taken to Halfpenny Green Vineyards, where they will be pressed and bottled, with the wine being ready in April 2006.
Course tutor Alyn Ainsworth said: "This crop has been the result of two and a half years of hard work by both staff and students.
"All that remains is for us to find a name for the wine, perhaps reflecting the heritage of Leasowes Park, which was landscaped by William Shenstone in the 18th century."
