February 2024

I am in Olso, Norway on pleasure but I cannot resist checking out the government liquor store in the centre of town.  The sale of wine and spirits in Scandinavia is strictly controlled by the government and has been for 100 years.  No guesses why.  Vinmonopolet is the operation in Norway.  Here is a myth worth exploding: the booze on sale here is about the same price as in the UK.  In restaurants and hotels, yes, it is eye watering… but not here. 

A glance down the shelves of a section devoted to English sparkling wine (ESW) is impressive with displays of top UK brands such as Gusbourne, Nyetimer, Hattingley Valley, Simpsons, and Balfour. The Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs, for instance, is on sale for the same price (Krona 13/£1) if not less than in the UK.  The manager explain that the importer will put a range of wine in front of the government judges and from that they will choose which ones go forward to be sold throughout the country, based on price and quality. The importer makes a good margin and the government makes ‘no profit she tells me – hoho, apart from the 40 % tax they impose!!  That clearly leaves the UK producer with a modest margin, but a margin nevertheless in an expanding overseas market. The Scandinavians love our fizz.

We were approached by the Olso Beer Company in January to see if we were interested in putting our wines forward for consideration.  Nice to be asked but guaranteeing a certain volume, if selected, would be an issue for WWV not to mention selling at a price well below the cost of producing – not very attractive.

As good visitors, we pack some Rhone into out luggage and buy a bottle of gin to quaff in our cabin of the ship which will head north up the coast of Norway and into the Barents sea, the final destination being Kirkenes ( near Murmansk). I shall ask for a glass of ice from the barman. We have tonic and a lemon at the ready.

On 21 February, we begin the winter pruning in earnest with the help of Martin and Jane Buckland, plus Polly Gibson for a day. Dave and I give them all a pep talk on how to go about things and off we go. It takes five days of laborious work. By the end, we are moving down a row, the three of us , leapfrogging each other.  It is a good system as it allows us to stop and seek advice on a tricky vine. 

As I have only just returned from the Arctic Circle, I simply wear a T shirt and shorts.

I have invited a few well-behaved sheep back into the vineyard to do a bit of nibbling.  Trevor and Elizabeth Gore oblige and drop them off. The electric wire is on most definitely so I shall have to let Ludo know that he should keep away from the fence or else take the consequences.  I have a human/spaniel dictionary to hand which should help the translation.