Two brothers are inviting volunteers to help with the final grape harvest this weekend as they celebrate an award-winning year at their vineyard west of Andover.

Nat, 34 and Toby McConnell, 37 went into business together in 2016, when they planted ten acres of vines.

This summer the pair were awarded Silver in the Decanter World Wine Awards for their Premier Cuvée 2019 and the Cuvée Rosé 2019, the first wines they produced from fruit grown at Bluestone vineyard.

Nat said: “It’s a fantastic achievement, the panel includes over two hundred leading wine experts, 20 Master Sommeliers and 61 Master of Wine from 33 countries, so to win Silver is a huge honour for us.”

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Toby looks after the day-to-day management of the vineyard: “The work never stops, but it’s great fun as the business grows. Next year we have ambitious plans to look at other ideas, like processing the grapes ourselves. Every year we learn more about the industry and as our knowledge increases so do our ideas.”

Climate change is a concern for the brothers, but both admit there’s little they can do to alter the weather and more prolonged and frequent rainfall: “It’s difficult,“ Nat said with a shrug: “We need to find ways to combat the UK’s challenging climate, we’ve heard that some vineyard owners have invested in polytunnels but that’s expensive. We need to do more research before we commit to anything."

In the Tasting Room, Jasmine Broomfield, 25 is preparing for the weekend’s activities: “It’s the last official tasting session this weekend which coincides with the last harvest pickings, so it’ll be busy. I love working here, it’s an incredible environment, with beautiful views of the vineyard, in fact we had a proposal here a few weeks ago!”

Nat and Toby are two of nine children, their parents bought the Rare Breeds Farm in 2001, so the brothers know the area well, Nat explained: “The fact we spend time here as a family ties us together, so to be able to do something new and exciting with the land is a gift.”

For more information on Bluestone Vineyard’s events and personal tours go to www.bluestonevineyards.co.uk