How Vineyards Turn Cut Vines Into Renewable Energy

Just after harvest 2025, we shared news of a major milestone at Bolney Wine Estate: the grubbing up and replanting of 10,000 vines as part of our long-term vineyard renewal programme.

If you’re new to the story, grubbing up is the process of carefully removing older vines so the land can rest before being replanted with healthy new vines for the future. You can read more about why we’re doing this in part 1 of the project.

Now that the first phase of grubbing up is complete, we wanted to share an important update and answer a question we’re often asked:

What actually happens to the vines once they’ve been removed?

What Happens to Old Vines and Pruning Cuttings?

Once vines reach the end of their productive life, or when branches are cut during the annual pruning, the plant material can’t just be left to waste. Traditionally, old vines and pruning cuttings might have been burned, which releases a lot of carbon dioxide into the air.

As part of the grubbing and pruning process, the removed vines and cut branches are first gathered into large brush piles along the vineyard. These piles need to be carefully removed and disposed of, which is an important step before the material can be recycled.

Instead of burning them, we take care to recycle the vines and cut branches so they can be used in a better way.

During this phase of Bolney’s replanting project, 58.42 tonnes of grubbed-up vines, along with smaller branches from pruning, were collected and taken to a local biomass recycling facility, just three miles from the estate.

If they had been burned, this material would have released around 100 tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Why Recycle Old Vines and Prunings?

Treating the vineyard wood and branch material as a biomass resource rather than waste has environmental benefits. We can reduce emissions and give plant material a second life as renewable energy, in turn, helping us take small steps towards a greener vineyard.

Recycling old vines and cuttings also helps us:

• Reduce waste going to the landfill
• Lower fossil fuel dependency
• Cut down greenhouse gas emissions
• Give natural materials a second life

Vines are cut back and replaced regularly, so recycling the wood in a climate-friendly way is a sensible choice when looking after a working vineyard. By reusing plant material, we can care for the land while supporting renewable energy, turning everyday vineyard work into something that benefits the wider environment too.

What is Biomass Recycling?

Biomass recycling is the process of turning natural plant materials, like old vines and pruned branches, into renewable, green energy.

At Bolney Wine Estate, all cut material is carefully collected and sent to a local specialist biomass facility. Here’s what happens:

1. Shredding – both old vines and cut branches are chopped into smaller pieces, making them easier to handle and transport.
2. Processing – this prepares the shredded material to be used as fuel. It typically involves:

• Drying to reduce moisture for efficient use
• Sorting to remove any non-plant debris, like stones or metal
• Compressing to form wood-like pellets or chips
• Packaging or loading so they are ready for energy use

Once processed, the biomass can be used in wood-burning stoves, industrial boilers, or other renewable energy systems, replacing fossil fuels like coal or gas.

Because the carbon in the vines and branches was absorbed while they were growing, using them as biomass fuel is far more climate-friendly than burning them on site, making old vineyard material part of a circular, sustainable system.

Working with Local Sustainability Experts

For this stage of the project, we partnered with Olus, a West Sussex biomass recycling company focused on sustainable land management. By sending our cut wood material to a facility just a few miles from the estate, we also:

• Reduce transport emissions
• Lower our carbon footprint
• Support a local business

Come and See the Changes for Yourself

Even while pruning and replanting take place, Bolney Wine Estate remains open as usual. Our vineyard tours give visitors the chance to see these sustainable practices in action. From grubbing up old vines to pruning and recycling.

Book a vineyard tour and tasting to explore the estate and learn about how we care for our vines.