Thieves Steal 500kg of Grapes from British Vineyard

A family-run vineyard in Norfolk has reported the theft of approximately 500 kilograms of grapes, leaving entire rows of vines stripped bare. The incident occurred on September 22 at the 33-acre Winbirri Vineyard in Surlingham.

Lee Dyer, the owner, stated that the stolen fruit was valued at around £1,000 but could yield approximately £8,000 if processed into wine, enough for about 400 bottles. Dyer described the loss as representing a year's worth of work for his family-run business, emphasizing the labor-intensive nature of grape cultivation.

Dyer indicated that the significant quantity of stolen grapes suggests the involvement of more than one individual. He is now considering investing in security measures such as motion-activated cameras, an expense he feels should not be necessary.

This is not the first instance of theft at the vineyard. In previous years, individuals have been apprehended with secateurs and equipment for harvesting grapes, though on a smaller scale.

Dyer noted that visitors had expressed interest in picking grapes for personal wine-making shortly before the theft. He suspects the perpetrators intended to produce their own wine, citing regulations that make it difficult to sell grapes for commercial wine production without prior arrangements and documentation. "Wine grapes, especially with Bacchus, don't have enough flesh to be an eating grape," he explained, suggesting the stolen fruit's primary use would be for homemade wine.

The loss of the 500kg of grapes means Winbirri Vineyard will be unable to produce an estimated 400 bottles of wine this year, as the harvest season only occurs twice annually. The vineyard was established in 2007 by Stephen Dyer, Lee Dyer's father, and was the first significant wine-making estate in Norfolk.

Norfolk Police have confirmed that they have received a report of the theft.