Year in the vines – part 10

8am, Thursday 9 Oct 2008. Fields are still misty as the Kentish sunrise washes through the haze. It’s going to be good weather for grape-picking.

A small gang of pickers armed with buckets, secateurs and gloves head towards the vineyard. There are up to 45 pairs of hands on site to make light work of the harvest.

Ahead of the labourers, small plastic crates are set amongst the rows at regular intervals. Once a picker fills his bucket, the bounty is emptied into the crates.

The crates sit expectantly …

… as the pickers get started. Today we’re harvesting Pinot...