The Journal
Field notes from Ballyclery Weather, vines, the farm and what we’re learning as an Irish vineyard takes shape.
Latest from the vineyard
Planting for the Future: Why We’re Trialling 26 Grape Varieties at Irish Wine Estates
If you want to understand how vineyards in Ireland will evolve over the next decade, it starts with one thing: Experimentation. At Irish Wine Estates, we are not just planting a vineyard we are actively testing what is possible for wine in…
Read the story: Planting for the Future: Why We’re Trialling 26 Grape Varieties at Irish Wine Estates
Four Months of Rain: How Irish Weather Put Our Vineyard Under Pressure
There is a tendency to think that establishing a vineyard begins when the vines go into the ground. In reality,…
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Why We Installed a Sencrop Weather Station in Our Irish Vineyard
Establishing a vineyard in Ireland involves a fair amount of learning. Some of that comes from books, consultants and other…
Read the story: Why We Installed a Sencrop Weather Station in Our Irish Vineyard
Letting the Plough Go: A Quiet Turning Point on the Farm
Some changes on a farm happen with very little ceremony. This was one of them. Today our plough left the…
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Storm Chandra: When Preparation Pays Off on the Farm
Storms have a way of revealing the truth about land. You can talk about drainage, water flow, and maintenance all…
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Back to Work After Christmas: A Frosty Morning at Irish Wine Estates
The 27th of December is a strange day on a farm. Christmas has just passed, the body is a little…
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Seeding Grass in a Drought: A Lesson in Timing, Weather, and Farming in Ireland
On the 10th of May, Trevor Austin planted grass seed in our Main Field at Irish Wine Estates. At the…
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Never Pray for Rain in Ireland: Lessons From Reseeding at Irish Wine Estates
Anyone who works the land in Ireland knows one universal truth: never pray for rain… not unless you’re prepared for…
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How We Chose Our Vineyard Site in Offaly: Building Ireland’s Next Wine Region
When people think of vineyards in Ireland, most imagine green fields, rain, and rolling hills not rows of vines. But…
Read the story: How We Chose Our Vineyard Site in Offaly: Building Ireland’s Next Wine Region
Lusca Vineyard: A Trailblazer Among Vineyards in Ireland
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming David Llewellyn, the founder of Lusca Vineyard, to Irish Wine Estates in Offaly.…
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Coming this winter
Conversations from the Kelly Shed
A winter interview series recorded in the farm's Kelly of Portlaoise shed: conversations about farming, diversification and building something new on Irish land.
Episodes will appear here and on our YouTube channel.
Written by
Stephen Whyte
Stephen Whyte is a co-founder of Irish Wine Estates in South Offaly. Together with his wife Nicola, he is documenting the development of their vineyard and exploring Irish viticulture, farm diversification, biodiversity and wine tourism.
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