English winemakers welcome the sun

Published: 26 July, 2012

English vineyard owners are rejoicing at the arrival of a warmer weather front after earlier fears for their crops.

Julia Trustram Eve from English Wine Producers hailed the warm spell as "very positive" for producers as it's "keeping the vineyards dry and helping with fruit set".

"I've been hearing that despite the earlier damper weather, vineyards are all in good condition," she said. "It's too early to make any predictions about the vintage but further spells of dry weather into the autumn will spell a happier end to a tricky start."

Sussex-based wine estate Ridgeview is predicting a high-quality vintage. "At the moment the vineyard looks very healthy," said Mardi Roberts, sales and marketing manager.

"We estimate yields are likely to be reduced due to difficult weather during flowering, although this can promise that resulting fruit flavours will be intensified and hopefully of great quality."

Bob Lindo, who owns Camel Valley in Cornwall, said the hot weather had "finished off the successful setting of a crop". He anticipated the estate will pick later than expected, and sounded a note of caution about the potential of the current vintage.

"How good the vintage is will depend on the weather between now and October," he said, adding that 2012 has been "a rollercoaster year, but [there's] still all to play for".

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