Regent. Main Vine.

This Regent vine is the first one bought and the stock from which all the other Regent vines come from. It is over ten years old and has produced some excellent fruit. It is hardy and never suffers from mildew.

These grapes make a very good deep red wine, more south of france than bordeaux, Fitou or Cotes du Russillon perhaps. They ripen well and are usually ready to pick around the first week of october. I would highly recommend it as a good variety to plant.

Compare with Madeleine Angevine - spot the difference eh?

The training system is a mix of cane pruning and spur pruning. Cane pruned on the trellise and a cordon that straddles the arch over the path. It works quite well and it is the only vine that you can walk underneath and look up at the hanging bunches.

Cropload will be decided once the vine begins growing as last year it didn't grow optimally because of magnesium deficiency. Regent it a variety that is prone to this nutrient deficiency but is easily treated with epsom salts. I treated it with this late last summer and the new growth was better. I shall give it another application just before bud break that will hopefully correct the problem.

Here is what they look like ripening a week or ten days away from picking. Experience has taught me that Regent is one of those grape varieties that will grow bigger berries in a sheltered spot than if grown in an open vineyard.