# We Planted a Vineyard! (Again)

**By Simon Wren** · 2024-05-23

![](//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2193/2489/files/westwell-wines-planted-vineyard-01-min.jpg?v=1716477321)

  
  

Finally, we have some exciting news - we planted a new vineyard this May. Part of our shared farming partnership with Birling Estate, we put down 31,404 vines: a mix of Ortega, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

  
  

![](//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2193/2489/files/westwell-wines-planted-vineyard-02-min.jpg?v=1716477320)

  
  

The Birling site shares many similarities with Westwell - it has same aspect and soil types and is also flanked by the ancient Pilgrims Way.

  
  

![](//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2193/2489/files/westwell-wines-planted-vineyard-03-min.jpg?v=1716477320)

  
  

Next up, we'll be adding a mixture of indigenous hedgerow plants - hawthorn, dog rose, spindle, vibernum and cotoneaster. This will both serve as a windbreak and act as a decoy for our unwelcome guest, the spotted wing drosophila.

We've used most of the same clones that we have at Westwell with a few extra additions for making a red wine. 2025 will be the first small harvest from last year's 2023 planting.

  
  

![](//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2193/2489/files/westwell-wines-planted-vineyard-04-min.jpg?v=1716477320)

  
  

This is the last of the planting at Birling and with it, we've doubled the number of vines we have at our disposal... more wine incoming!

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> Source: [Westwell Wine Estates](https://www.westwellwines.com/blogs/journal/we-planted-a-vineyard-again)