Better Business / Member news
Dunleavy Vineyards hails ‘exceptional’ harvest after long hot summer
The long, dry summer has produced one of the best harvests yet for Bristol-based Dunleavy Vineyards, with owner Ingrid Bates predicting an “exceptional” 2025 vintage.
Friends, family and volunteers from the local community joined the annual grape-picking at the wine producer’s Somerset vineyard on a warm Saturday morning, gathering fruit destined to become next year’s still rosé and future sparkling wines.
The freshly picked grapes were swiftly transported to a winery near Glastonbury, where winemakers Steve and Tim Brooksbank began pressing and fermenting the juice to create Dunleavy’s flagship wines — a still rosé, sparkling white and sparkling red.
Ingrid said the 2025 growing season has been “close to perfect”, thanks to months of steady warmth and dry weather that helped the fruit ripen with an ideal balance of sugar and acidity.
The freshly picked harvest is destined to become next year’s still rosé and future sparkling wines – photo: Dunleavy Vineyards
“We’re quietly optimistic about the 2025 vintage,” she said. “It promises to be one of the best we’ve ever had. The extended warm, dry weather gave the grapes everything they needed. We’re really excited to taste the results — though we’ll have to wait a few months for that.”
She explained that a successful harvest depends as much on key moments in spring and early summer as on the conditions at picking time.
“If we can avoid frost when the vines start growing in April, that gives them a great start,” Ingrid said.
“Then around July, the vines flower — those tiny blossoms need calm, warm weather to turn into grapes. This year, both those periods were warm and dry, which made all the difference.”
Ingrid Bates said the 2025 growing season has been “close to perfect”, thanks to months of steady warmth and dry weather that helped the fruit ripen with an ideal balance of sugar and acidity – photo: Remco Merbis
Dunleavy’s success comes as English wine continues to grow in quality and recognition, even as some European regions face falling yields and vineyard losses.
The vineyard’s wines are stocked in independent shops and restaurants across Bristol and the business also offers free delivery to most BS postcodes via its online shop.
Dunleavy Vineyards are member of the Bristol24/7 Better Business network, an initiative to help businesses thrive while creating a positive impact on Bristol and the people who live here. As part of their membership, businesses can publish member news stories like this. For more information, visit my.bristol247.com/better-business
Main photo: Dunleavy Vineyards
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