Grape Varieties
Whites. Most of the grape varieties grown at Bothy are cold climate German varieties that are early ripening. However, the climate of central UK differs from Germany and the expression of our whites here are fresh, aromatic wines with a lovely crispness and much varietal character.
Ortega
Müller-Thurgau x Siegerrebe An early ripening variety which can produce rich and zesty wines. Achieves lovely peachy and tropical fruit flavours on our site. Key component of Renaissance. 
Findling
Müller-Thurgau mutation A neutral variety with high sugar levels which we use in blending, usually with Perle and Huxelrebe to produce Oxford Dry. 
Albalonga
Rieslaner x Silvaner A heavy yielder, but ripens late and retains high acid levels. We have only retained a small number of plants as this is the only planting of Albaglonga in the UK and is of academic interest. We plan to make verjuice from it for cooking. |
Bacchus
(Silvaner x Reisling) x Müller-Thurgau One of the most important German crosses producing highly aromatic whites, in good quantities. Basis of Bothy's Doctor's Bacchus. Pic: Clare Higgins 
Perle of Alzey
A Roter Traminer x Müller-Thurgau A little planted early-ripening variety. Its parentage gives its pink colour when ripe, forming neat round bunches. Hint of flowery perfume - roses? Blended into Ox Dry, 
Huxelrube
Chasselas x Muscat Precoce Slightly later ripening, but capable of producing excellent wines from large bunches of grapes. Tight bunches. The wines can have Sauvingnon Blanc aroma. Key component of Oxford Dry. |
Reds - A mixture of early ripening grape varieties have been planted here to introduce complexity to our red and rosé wines. In addition to the red varieties we add some Ortega to our, Cote Bothy, to lift its flavour and aroma.
Rondo
Zarya Severa x Sankt Laurent A prolific, red fleshed German variety, well suited to the cool climes, making light, fruity wines. Early ripening and increasingly popular in the UK.. 
Dornfelder
Helfensteiner x Heroldrebe Red fleshed grape, producing dark, velvety wines in a good year. |
Regent
(Silvaner x Muller-Thurgau) x Chambourin Another early ripening red fleshed variety with good disease resistance. Delightful flavour in the cherry to redcurrant spectrum. |
Pruning System
The established vineyard is planted with the vines cane-pruned in the double guyot system. This is very labour intensive but does seem to produce high quality grapes.
Essentially this gives us 2.6 kilometres of a six-foot high hedge to tend!
black = permanent wood
red = last year's wood
blue = this year's canes to be used to replace last year's (red) wood
green = this year's fruiting canes
Essentially this gives us 2.6 kilometres of a six-foot high hedge to tend!
black = permanent wood
red = last year's wood
blue = this year's canes to be used to replace last year's (red) wood
green = this year's fruiting canes
In 2004 the reds Regent, Rondo and Dornfelder were planted, as well as the white Bacchus grape. These are trained on a single, high-wire system which is less prone to frost damage than the gutot system and requires labour intensive attention at different times of the year!
Here are a couple of documentary videos made showing some of the tasks required for the double goyot.
Here are a couple of documentary videos made showing some of the tasks required for the double goyot.
Video by Steve Hodgson
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Video by Pin Sharp Marketing
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