Davenport, Limney `Horsmonden` White

The winery is at Limney Farm, an old dairy farm with buildings that made easy conversion for their new winemaking purpose. Since 1993 they have extended the buildings for a dedicated bottling area and temperature controlled store and since 2010 the winery is now solar powered, and solar panels generate enough electricity to run the whole winery.

All the sites are managed using only organic methods. Organic grapes are grown without chemical fertilisers, weedkillers, insecticides and using only a very limited range of fungicides. The aim is to get as close as possible to a natural environment and cause less pollution into the water, soil and air around the vineyard (and then into the wider environment).

By focusing on care for the soil in the vineyard the vines have a balance and health that cannot come from the use of chemicals. Soil biology rather than soil chemistry is the thing. Using composts and manures encourages soil microbes, fungi and bacteria to thrive. These microbes make food for the plants. Copper and Sulphur are used to control mildew, along with plant extracts made from seaweed, comfrey and nettles.

The grapes are manually harvested and in late September to late October. Most of the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, with only 10% fermented in large foudres. The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered and with a small amount of sulphur.