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Article: Sweet success in first UK 'noble rot' grapes.
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- December 7, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: ANDREW LOUDON
A VINEYARD owner's threemonth gamble with nature has paid off with the first UK harvest of 'noble rot' grapes used for dessert wines.
David Grey banked on global warming for a warm, dry and late autumn to help his grapes.
Normally, the chardonnay crop would have been picked in September.
But, as churches held harvest festivals, Mr Grey refused to be rushed at his Meopham Valley Vineyard, near Gravesend, in Kent.
The clocks went back and leaves fell from the trees but Mr Grey held his nerve.
And the conditions duly allowed the natural mold botrytis cinerea to go to work on his grapes, rotting and ...