Chris Foss, head of the college s department of wine studies and forestry, said they were planning to start their harvest in a fortnight s time. But the good late weather really helped and the fruit started ripening really well. The quality of the fruit is good and it is a much better situation than anticipated earlier in the year. At Barkham Manor Vineyard, near Uckfield, the harvest got underway today and owners Mark and Lynn Lambert are very pleased with the fruit. We thought everything was going to be really late but the Indian Summer meant it all started shooting along again.
Sugar levels are high and the fruit is good.