Cheers to that! English wine is set for a record harvest thanks to a mild spring and sunny September
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- Leading UK fizz producer Nyetimber said this year will see the biggest harvest
- Lack of winter frost and warm sunny weather in spring are responsible
The corks are popping for British sparkling wine producers, who have declared their biggest ever grape harvest.
Nyetimber, a leading producer of English fizz, said this year will see the biggest harvest.
About 350 hectares will be harvested, an increase of 7.7 percent from last year’s 325 hectares.
And Nyetimber isn’t alone: Britain’s wine industry has had an excellent year overall.
A lack of winter frost and warm, sunny weather in spring during the flowering period has resulted in a record harvest, growers said.
The corks are popping for British sparkling wine producers, who have declared their biggest ever grape harvest
Britain’s largest winemaker, Chapel Down, said this week that the 2023 vintage would be of ‘exceptional quality and record volume and yield’.
According to the company, sales rose 21 percent to £8.4 million in the six months to June 30 this year.
According to industry body Wine GB, vineyards are flourishing.
According to the latest report, Britain’s wine area has increased by 74 percent since 2017, with almost 4,000 hectares currently under vine.
And this is expected to reach 7,600 hectares by 2032.
The main grape varieties grown are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Most wine growing takes place in England, with only 70.3 hectares in Wales and 1.9 hectares in Scotland.
Kent, West Sussex and East Sussex are the counties that produce the most grapes.
The chalky soil in the south provides similar conditions to France’s Champagne region, and warmer temperatures in recent years have led to higher sugar content in the grapes, allowing for higher alcohol content.
Nyetimber, a leading producer of English fizz, said this year will see the biggest harvest
One hectare can produce approximately 4.8 tons of wine.
English wine production has increased by 130 percent in just five years, with production of 12.2 million bottles in 2022, of which 68 percent will be English sparkling wine.
Nyetimber’s Senior Winemaker Brad Greatrix said: ‘There are always a few hurdles to jump over before we can understand the final volume and, most importantly, the quality of the grapes.
‘We have only had minor and localized frost events this season and the weather has been favorable during the flowering period.
“This year we will harvest an increased vineyard area of 350 hectares, compared to 325 hectares in 2022.”