Bradford on Avon’s wine-producing hotel carried out the French tradition of the vendange this week.

The Leigh Park Hotel in Bradford Leigh is believed to be the only hotel in Britain boasting its own commercial vineyard.

The vendange (grape vine picking) was led by the hotel’s gardener Gary Wicks with a team of professional pickers The grapes were then taken to Mumfords Vine-yard, Bannerdown, near Bath for processing.

Mr Wicks said: “This is our 20th harvest and the grapes this year are excellent in quality, but the quantity is down which is due to the poor weather and just general lack of sunshine – pollination was also poor due to the cold weather. I believe other local vineyards have suffered more than we have.”

Throughout the year Mr Wicks tends the grapes as part of his general duties, and has a disciplined spraying programme to ensure a good healthy crop.

Tony Cox, the owner of Mumford’s Vineyard, commented on the high quality of the grapes and congratulated Mr Wicks on his ability to tend the grapes to ensure a good crop.

The grapes should make a good single variety wine – made purely from the Leigh Park Vineyard grapes.

Pamela Duckett, general manager said: “Tony Cox was really pleased with the quality of the grapes. They don’t look like the grapes you purchase in a supermarket but it’s the juice in the fruit that is important.”

The Vineyard at the Leigh Park Hotel has 600 Reichensteiner vines in the one acre of walled garden within its grounds.

The Reichensteiner grape is noted for making a particularly attractive medium dry white wine.