The grape, Vitis vinifera, is a sun-loving hardy deciduous woody-stemmed climber from Asia Minor and the Caucasus. It does best in a temperate climate with springs free of frost and long, warm summers. It dislikes strong winds and heavy summer rainfall and takes two good consecutive summers to produce a full crop. Yet despite all these difficulties, the grape came to Britain with the Romans and has continued to flourish there ever since. Whether cultivated under glass (best for dessert grapes), or out in the open, given the right conditions and care, wine grapes can be grown across the country.
Two Royal Horticultural Society experts offer all the advice you need to produce your own grape harvest - dessert grapes or for wine. Vitis vinifera has been grown in Britain since their introduction by the Romans but only today are English wines gradually gaining a foothold in the universal world of wine. Maybe it is global warming, maybe it is centuries of experience but today the wines produced in Kent are known across the Channel, featuring on wine lists in top hotels and restaurants. Difficult? Yes, and prone to several pests and diseases, but with a little care and attention it is more than possible to grow your own. In cooler counties in a greenhouse but down South outside is perfectly feasible. From what varieties to choose, which method to grow them on and where, Harry Baker and Ray Waite lead both the uninitiated and the more experienced grower through the steps necessary to get the best out of your vine. Part of the RHS Wisley handbook series, this is a comprehensive and concise look at grapes, fully illustrated and clearly written. Aimed at both the amateur and professional grower, this is an invaluable addition to any serious horticulturalist´s bookshelf. - Lucy Watson
