‘Complex, challenging, rewarding… An English Classic’ – Balfour Winery Harvest Report 2024

The 2024 Harvest has come to an end. This year is one of contrasts, with some hidden gems to be uncovered. Find out more, in our Harvest Report…

Following the record-breaking 2023 harvest, which saw production up by over 132% year-on-year, 2024 marked a return to a more typical yield at Balfour. Yet, the tonnage alone doesn’t capture the complexity of this vintage—one that presented unique challenges and surprising insights.

The Headlines

• Longest Harvest: The 2024 harvest spanned an unprecedented 35 days from October 2nd to November 1st, with the final load brought in on November 1st, and our Albariño still to be harvested later this month.
• Second-Highest Yield on Record: This year marks Balfour’s second-highest yield by tonnage ever, with almost 500 tonnes of grapes reaching our winery for production—a remarkable testament to the efforts of our growers and the resilience of our vineyards.
• Late Ripening Strategy: In response to a difficult summer, we employed a strategy of extended hang time, leaving fruit on the vine as long as possible to benefit from any autumn sunshine. This approach proved effective in boosting ripeness, with our lab analysing up to 50 blocks in a single day to pinpoint optimal picking windows and inform daily harvest decisions.
• Quality Highlights: Eastern vineyards in East Kent and Essex yielded exceptional fruit, especially for Pinot Noir, and our first-ever batch of Sauvignon Blanc has delighted our Director of Wine, Fergus Elias.

The Vintage

The 2024 growing season across England posed significant challenges. A mild, wet spring encouraged early growth but increased mildew risks, especially in western regions where persistent rain into May affected fruit set and cluster formation. In July, warm, humid weather raised disease pressure from downy and powdery mildew, though drier eastern vineyards enjoyed healthier vine conditions with fewer interventions than in the west.

A brief hot, dry spell in August supported ripening, while cooler September temperatures preserved acidity, though fluctuating conditions caused uneven ripening. Early October’s clear, dry weather was ideal for a timely harvest, especially in the east, where grapes achieved good ripeness and balanced acidity. This vintage is expected to yield fresh, vibrant wines, with eastern sites showcasing the best of this challenging year.

Fergus’ View

“On the continent, they’d call this a ‘Winemakers’ Harvest.’ Our philosophy of small-batch winemaking has been essential this year, given variations in acidity and sugar levels—even between neighbouring sub-blocks within the same field—reflecting the season’s diverse conditions.

This vintage is full of possibilities. We aim to craft wines that showcase English character, and 2024 offers just that. Disease pressure was high, but our partner growers managed it impressively, delivering not only an excellent yield but also clean fruit.

I’m especially optimistic about our 2024 reds. Just a decade ago, a season this challenging would have seen black grapes destined for sparkling wine. Yet, thanks to our growers’ skill and the maturity of the vines, we now have exceptional fruit for high-quality English reds and some thrilling aromatic varieties.

While I’m prepared for a ‘Winemakers’ Harvest,’ this vintage was truly shaped in the vineyard by our dedicated growers and supported by the tireless work of our winery team. So I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped make Vintage 2024. The result is a true English classic—complex and challenging but ultimately rewarding.”

— Fergus Elias, Balfour Winery Director of Wine.

What to Look Out For

• Aromatic Wines: Look forward to our 2024 Bacchus, to be released in early 2025, delivering classic citrus notes and lively vivacity.
• Pinot Noir: The standout variety of this harvest, particularly from Essex, showing excellent sugar levels and vibrant fruit character for exceptional still reds.
• A Harvest for the Rising Stars: Look out for some lesser-known varieties, possibly a few new names. Our English Sauvignon Blanc has thrived, along with Ortega, and Pinot Blanc. Notably, our Pinot reached natural alcohol levels of 12-12.5%, a standout achievement, and our rosé quality is exceptional.

Harvest in Numbers

• Duration: 36 consecutive days—the longest harvest on record.
• Top Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.
• The weight of the Chardonnay harvested equals about 1.07 elephants.
• It would take approximately 393 people to lift the entire Pinot Noir harvest if each person could lift 20 kg.
• The total grape harvest is equivalent to the weight of 114 double-decker buses.