English vineyards enjoy second ‘excellent’ harvest

English wines are seeing a bumper harvest for the second year in a row, producers have confirmed.

Chapel Down CEO Frazer Thompson (Photo: Chapel Down)

Kent-based winery Chapel Down reported good yields of vintage 2015, while the quality of this year’s fruit has been “excellent”.

The “outstanding” flowering period in June got the vines off to a good start and despite a cooler than average August, conditions improved with the unseasonably warm, dry and sunny weather in late September and October, the company noted. This helped lower the pressure of disease pressure and boost ripeness levels it said, giving “ideal fruit” with “excellent balance of acidity and the development of intense flavours”.

Yields at Chapel Down are set to be the second largest harvest the vineyard has seen, it said, with winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire noting it was comparable to 2010 and 2013 in terms of style although superior in quality.

CEO Frazer Thompson said he was delighted with both the yield and quality of the fruit, which he said were in line with expectations and followed a record-breaking 2014 harvest.

“It’s been another outstanding year and we’re excited about the potential of the wines we can create from this vintage,” he said. “These are exciting times for English wines and Chapel Down in particular.”

According to the latest stats from the Met office, the UK has seen above average sunshine throughout the last two months, up 25% in September and 15% in October.

Sussex winery Rathfinny Estate also has reported a “fantastic harvest” despite the dreadful weather in July and August, according to owner Mark Driver.

“Our yields were slightly higher than expected and the grapes were really clean with no sign of rot or botrytis,” he said. “The Pinot Noir has done particularly well for us and I’m still hopeful we’ll harvest our Riesling in mid-November.”

Speaking to the drinks business last month Sam Linter of Bolney Wine Estates said the quantity was down slightly on last year’s bumper harvest, but late sunshine had boosted the grapes they were very happy with the quality.

The UK has witnessed a 41% rise in the number of new wine producers in the last year, according to figures from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).