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VitiForce - Vineyard Management Services, Brighton and Hove (2026)

21/06/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update | 21/06/2026

Hello vine growers,

A special week for two reasons: it's my very first Father's Day and the start of English Wine Week! 🍷

Last week's highlights:
✅ Applied biostimulants to support vines affected by the May frosts, particularly those in rabbit guards.

🌼 Flowering is now well underway across vineyards, with many sites reaching 100% flowering. The weather forecast looks very favourable, which means we could start seeing the first signs of fruit set within the next week.

✅ Continued crop walks to monitor vine health, nutrition, and disease pressure across vineyards.

What's next in the vineyard?
🍇 Leaf stripping
🍇 Crop walking
🍇 Spraying
🍇 Undervine Management
🍇 Vine Trimming

Jobs that should be completed by now:
✔️ Bud rubbing
✔️ Wire lifting
✔️ Shoot thinning

Regular crop walks remain the foundation of successful vineyard management, helping identify issues early and make informed decisions throughout the season.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! I'm feeling incredibly blessed to celebrate my first Father's Day and looking forward to taking my little one on a fishing trip tomorrow. 🎣

Have a great week in the vineyard, and enjoy English Wine Week!

15/06/2026

🍇 Vitiforce Weekly Update – 15/06/2026 🍇

What a week it's been!

Over the last 7 days, we've visited vineyards across East Sussex, West Sussex, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Essex, helping growers stay on top of this crucial stage of the season. Next week, we're heading to Norfolk and the Cotswolds.

🔍 Crop Walks
This week was all about monitoring vine development, checking for disease and nutrient deficiencies, and planning the next steps for each vineyard.

A special mention to Andrew and Chablis (the levely dog) at Hungerhill vineyard. The vineyard is looking better every week, and we're excited to see how drone technology can support future vineyard management.

👏 Great progress is also being made at Woodvalley vineyard, where Kevin and Keeley have worked incredibly hard and did lots of new improvements on the site and new wine release is amazing. Well done!

☀️ The Corboulds in Surrey is currently one of the most advanced sites we've visited, with all varieties now in full flower. It feels more like the South of France than Surrey!

🌸 Flowering
Some vineyards are just starting to flower, while others are already in full bloom. Over the next week, we expect growth stages across the UK to become much more aligned.

🌿 Canopy Management
If you haven't already, the first foliage wire should be lifted and shoots tucked in. Good canopy management remains a top priority.

🚜 Spraying
After Wednesday's rain and the warm weather that followed, disease pressure has increased significantly. These conditions are ideal for fungal development, so now is the time to stay vigilant and keep spray programmes on track.

Need help with crop walking, vineyard management, disease monitoring, or spray planning?

📩 Get in touch.
[email protected]

See you next week!

31/05/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update – 31/05/2026

Hello everyone,

Here’s a quick update on the current vineyard work and seasonal challenges across our sites. With rain forecast next week, we expect the first real disease pressure of the season, so timing and vineyard management are becoming increasingly important.

Woodvalley Vineyard – First Wine Release

One of my proudest achievements so far.

In 2025, I began working with a fantastic family-run vineyard, providing consultancy and vineyard management support. Together, we successfully produced quality fruit that has now been bottled for their very first wine release.

A huge congratulations to Woodvalley Vineyard — this is only the beginning of an exciting journey.

Vineyard Challenges

This season’s frost events have left vineyards at very different growth stages, from early shoot development to flowering vines, making operations far more complex.

Within just 10 days, temperatures moved from 0°C to 36°C, pushing rapid vine growth across many sites. Current work includes:

shoot thinning,

wire lifting,

biostimulant applications,

adapting frost recovery strategies.

Spraying & Flowering

Recent heatwaves made spraying impossible during peak temperatures, meaning we now have a very tight window before next week’s rain but manage to fit a spray.

Flowering has already started on varieties such as Rondo, Pinot Noir Précoce, and Ortega, which also changes spray programme decisions moving forward. On some very advanced vineyards we witnessed 5% Flowering on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Next Week’s Focus

bud rubbing,

shoot selection,

wire lifting,

mid-wire dropping.

•undervine cultivation/mowing using bossolet from

If you need vineyard support, consultancy, or labour anywhere in the UK, feel free to get in touch.

— Blago | Vitiforce

17/05/2026

Vitiforce weekly update 17/05/2026

Hello guys, here’s what happened last week at the vineyard and some of the jobs we’ve been busy with.

Frost Damage

On Monday 11th of May, temperatures dropped to -1°C and the vines were even more vulnerable than before, which unfortunately caused further frost damage. In some vineyards it affected the first growth, which is manageable, but in most cases the secondary shoots were damaged, reducing potential yield by up to 90%.

However, even in the worst affected areas, we are already seeing new shoots emerging from the crown of the vines. These will help produce healthy growth for next year. In my opinion, this has been the worst frost season in the history of English wine production.

This doesn’t mean we won’t make wine this year — we absolutely will, and it will still be amazing wine — just in smaller quantities.

Regenerative Viticulture Meeting

We attended a viticulture meeting at the wonderful Arun Valley Vineyard / Wildkite, where we discussed frost protection, cover crops, and vineyard machinery supplied by . It was a really valuable day looking at different ways to improve soil texture and structure through regenerative viticulture practices.

A big thank you to Arun Valley for hosting us!

Fertilising

It’s never too late to improve soil health, whether with NPK or natural fertilisers. I also had the pleasure of returning to where my viticultural journey first started — Plumpton College — to help spread fertiliser and give the vines the nutrients they need for the season ahead.

What’s Next?

I believe the frost events are now behind us, and it’s time to focus on the next vineyard operations:
bud rubbing, shoot selection, and preparing the trellising for the new vintage.

Thank you for following and supporting the journey!

Blago – Vitiforce

10/05/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update 🍇 10th of May 2026

Hello everyone,

It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for another quick update from the vineyard and a look ahead at the jobs we’ll be moving into over the coming weeks.

Growth Stage

At the moment, vineyards are showing a range of growth stages depending on the frost damage experienced over the past few weeks. Some vines are progressing well into inflorescence development, while others are currently at the 2–3 leaf stage. In certain areas, secondary buds are now bursting and developing quickly. Tonight temp will drop to 2C lets be alert!

NPK Fertilising

Early-season fertilising is extremely important, particularly where vines have experienced poor growth or are still establishing.

* **Nitrogen (N)** — essential for vine growth and vigour
* **Phosphorus (P)** — supports healthy green foliage, root development, improved fruit set, and overall grape quality
* **Potassium (K)** — vital for fruit development, berry size, water regulation, Brix levels, and stress management

If you require fertilising services for your vineyard, feel free to get in touch.

Bud Rubbing

Now is the time to begin bud rubbing. This process is generally more labour-intensive on 1–2 year old vines compared to mature vineyards. Older vines can often be machine bud rubbed, making the task far more efficient.

Sprayer Servicing

Over the past week, I’ve been servicing and checking sprayers to ensure everything is running smoothly ahead of the spraying season.

Work completed includes:

* Calibration
* Clearing blocked nozzles and pipes
* Leak repairs
* General maintenance and cleaning

What’s Next?

Upcoming vineyard operations include:

* Tractoring

* Undervine mowing
* Alley mowing
* Machine bud rubbing
* Undervine cultivation
* Spraying
* Bud rubbing
* Shoot thinning
* Dropping wires

If you have any questions or need support with vineyard work, feel free to contact me.

Blago — Vitiforce

04/05/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update 🍇🍷☘️

Hello everyone,
Here’s a quick update on our activities over the past week—something to read through over the bank holiday, perhaps with a glass of wine in hand.

Frost
Unfortunately, we were reminded that nature is not always on our side. On the 24th and 25th of April, temperatures across the UK dropped to -3°C and -1°C during a critical growth stage, causing significant damage.
This year’s frost has been particularly severe, affecting vineyards across nearly every county. While some sites experienced less impact due to favourable microclimates, others were hit hard.

The key question now is how to respond. A range of biostimulants and fertilisers can support vine recovery and encourage strong secondary growth. At the same time, it’s important to stay positive—great wine is made from quality, not quantity. Lower yields do not mean the end of the season.

My thoughts are with all UK growers affected. If you’d like to discuss frost recovery strategies, feel free to get in touch.

Shoot Thinning
For frost-affected vineyards, shoot thinning is highly recommended. This allows the vine to focus its energy on the most productive shoots while supporting long-term vine health.
Removing shoots from the crown and excess secondary growth improves airflow, enhances spray coverage, simplifies pruning, and ultimately contributes to better fruit quality.

Leaf Stripping Machine Setup
This week, we worked alongside to prepare our leaf stripping machine for the upcoming season. Ensuring everything runs smoothly in advance is essential, especially as demand peaks during the summer months.
We have already secured bookings with several clients—if you’re interested, we recommend getting in touch early.

Tractoring
Our main focus now is undervine management and spraying. Effective w**d control is crucial to reduce competition for nutrients and to limit humidity around the vines.
With proper calibration and nozzle selection, spraying can be carried out efficiently, saving both time and resources.

What’s Next?
• Bud rubbing
• Shoot thinning
• Tractoring
• Fertilising

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Thanks,
Blago

25/04/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update 🍇

Hello everyone—here’s this week’s update from the vineyard:

🌱 Weather & Vine Growth
This season has been a bit unusual. Due to a mild winter, vines reached budburst earlier than expected, leaving many vineyards vulnerable to recent frost events across all wine regions.
We’re now approaching bud rubbing and shoot thinning, but holding off for about a week to ensure there’s no further frost risk.

🌿 Vine Replacement Count
During winter, we leave vines with questionable growth to see if they recover in spring. Unfortunately, not all have come through, so we’re currently assessing losses and planning replacements for next month.

🪲 Grapevine Blister Mite
Blister mites have appeared in my garden vineyard. While they can reduce photosynthesis and slow growth in young vines, they’re easily treated with sulphur. The good news—they don’t affect fruit or yield.

🚜 Manure Spreading
We recently worked in Essex using the new Rink manure/compost spreader. It features an improved design, making it even easier and more efficient to use.
The machine can be set for undervine application or full broadcast, depending on the grower’s needs, and fits into narrow rows.
Available on hire or purchase—feel free to reach out to me or for more info.

🔜 What’s Next?
• Bud rubbing
• Shoot thinning
• Tractor operations (spraying, mowing, undervine cultivation if needed)
• Dropping wires (if not already done)
• Replanting
• Fertilising / manure spreading

It’s getting busy out there! If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.

Blago | Vitiforce

19/04/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update

Hello everyone,

I’m back with this week’s update—another busy and productive period. Over the past five days, we’ve worked across four different counties, giving us a great overview of varying vineyard conditions.

Vine Growth Stages
Working across multiple regions continues to highlight how unique each vineyard’s microclimate is. We’ve observed everything from woolly bud through to early inflorescence development.

While some sites benefit from natural frost protection, others still require active measures. Over the coming weeks, we expect growth stages to begin aligning more closely across vineyards.

Trellising
We’ve completed essential trellis repairs across several vineyards to ensure readiness for the season ahead. From post replacement and wire work to hangers and chain adjustments, these sites are now well-prepared for Vintage 2026.

Sprayer Services
Proper sprayer maintenance is key to a smooth start to the season—avoiding blocked nozzles and inefficient application. Lipco sprayers remain a top choice thanks to their recycling system, improving both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Equipment is available for demo via .

Tying Down
There is still time to complete tying down, but extra care is needed as shoots become more fragile following budburst. Consider increasing efficiency with machinery, or get in touch if you’d like support using our Zanon electric tying machine.

Bud Rubbing
Bud rubbing can begin gradually. While it’s one of the less enjoyable tasks at this stage, established vineyards may benefit from mechanical options to improve efficiency over manual work.

Undervine Cultivation
The Bossolet undervine cultivator continues to stand out as an excellent solution for w**d control and soil management. With a range of attachments available, the Cutmatic blade is particularly effective—cutting w**d roots while lifting and aerating the soil. Available for hire or purchase via .

Upcoming Operations to Consider:
• Mowing
• Spraying (Powdery Mildew & Downy Mildew)
• Fertilising
• Vine replanting
• Undervine cultivation
• Wire dropping (if not already completed)

Team Vitiforce

11/04/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update 🌱

Hi everyone—time for our weekly vineyard report! Apologies if we’ve been a bit quiet on social media lately… it’s a busy season, but we’re doing our best to keep you all in the loop.

Trellising Repair & Maintenance
This is the perfect time to get vineyards ready for the upcoming season. With frost risk still present and bud rubbing/shoot selection around the corner, making sure all wires and posts are secure is essential.
We’ve been working across Surrey and Hampshire, helping growers get prepared—making some noise with our petrol-driven post basher, which performed brilliantly despite the dry soil. So far, we’ve replaced 40 end posts and 60 intermediate posts.
Big thanks to for the support—their truck made the job a lot smoother!

Bud Burst 🌿
We’re now in full bud burst, which means vines are especially vulnerable to frost. Keep an eye on your weather apps and watch for sudden temperature drops. In the UK, frost risk is becoming more unpredictable due to milder winters and warmer late March conditions.

Tractoring 🚜
Jobs completed so far:
• Mulching
• Herbicide spraying
• Mowing

Next up: fertilising and spraying for powdery and downy mildew—so make sure your equipment is ready to go.

Jamie’s Update 😅
Jamie has officially been introduced to “tying down.” His main focus? The noise of the machine! With 9 months of experience under his belt, his expert feedback was: “gaga, hoo, wawa”… which roughly translates to: *“buds are advancing—we should’ve been here earlier!”* 😄

Hope to see you all out in the vineyards soon.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch anytime!

Kind regards,
Blago – Vitiforce

31/03/2026

Vitiforce Weekly Update

Hello everyone,

It might seem quiet in the vineyard after tying down, but this is actually one of the most important times of the year—planning for the upcoming vintage.

Let’s focus on what really matters before the season kicks off:

Equipment
Make sure all your machinery is fully serviced before the season starts—especially your tractor, sprayer, fertiliser spreader, and topper/flail mower.
If you need a hand with maintenance, I’m always happy to help.

Soil Checks
Now is the perfect time to dig a few holes and assess what’s happening below the surface. Look at worm activity, soil structure, and texture.
If you had issues last season, this is your opportunity to improve conditions using manure, compost, or granular fertiliser NPK.

Bud Burst
This is one of the earliest bud bursts I’ve seen in a while—especially on younger vines inside rabbit guards. Some vineyards reached bud burst as early as last week in March.
This makes them more vulnerable to frost, so keep your weather stations updated and stay alert.

Frost Protection
There are several options to protect your vines:
• Fires
• Candles
• Spraying
• Air movement (e.g. Ventigel supplied by )

At minimum, keep grass short and consider spraying 24 hours before a frost event.

Trip Home
Before the season starts, I visited my family and our vineyard in Bulgaria. It was great to reconnect, see friends, and visit local vineyards.

What’s Next?
The weather is looking promising—most importantly, rain is on the way. April rain is always welcome, and it often reduces the risk of frost.

Thanks for following along. I’ll be back soon with more updates on fertilising, trellising, and frost protection and exiciting news.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch:
07577 807750
[email protected]

Team Vitiforce

VitiForce - Vineyard Management Services

21/06/2026

15/06/2026

31/05/2026

17/05/2026

10/05/2026

04/05/2026

25/04/2026

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31/03/2026

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