Grapevine Gifts
Grapevines are surprisingly easy to grow in the UK and will thrive outside all year round.
All our vines are strong disease resistant varieties container grown at our Sussex nursery. Choose from some great hardy vines including Sauvignon Blanc or for black grapes a Pinot Noir. For wine making or eating we have Rondo or sweet Muscat grapes for the dessert table.Autumn and Spring are great times to plant out grapevines, so that they have time to put down their roots in readiness for the warmer longer days when they will quickly grow fresh new foliage ready for a tasty harvest later in the year.
Grapevines are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and warmer summers as well as the success of commercial vineyards has encouraged many more people to have a go at growing their own at home.
New disease resistant varieties help avoid the problems of powdery mildew and fruit rot and in a sunny position, you can get really good harvests even as far north as Scotland.
If you are buying for further north we would recommend a hardier variety like Johanniter vine or if you are looking for grapes for the table choose sweeter varieties and consider some additional frost protection. Although it's not essential in warmer summers, Phoenix and Chasselas Rose will all benefit from a cold frame or unheated greenhouse where the additional warmth will help sweeten the grapes even further.
We grow most of our grapevines here at our Sussex nursery from grafted cuttings supplied from a really fantastic French grower. They are strong 3 year old plants when they are delivered and we have several different batches throughout the year. Check each vine variety to see how they are looking and progressing through the seasons.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a big garden to grow a grapevine?
No, Grapevines look fantastic grown up wires on a wall or fence and provide a fresh leafy backdrop to any sized garden in the spring and summer months. We even have customers who have grown theirs up the side wall of their sunny balcony!
Are the grapes only suitable for making wine?
Many of the varieties of vine we sell produce grapes that can be eaten straight from the plant - delicious! The sunnier and warmer the position the juicier and sweeter the grape.
Can we add a bottle of wine to our vine gift?
Oh yes! We have a few gift options to suit different budgets, where you can also send a bottle of wine. You can find out more on our grapevine page. The sender and recipient must both be 18 or over though.
