Quality and quantity winning combination for English Wine Producers
There has been a surge in English Wine Producers a report released revealed this week. There are now 135 registered wine producers in the UK producing an annual total of 4.45million bottles. Experts said the trend matched a rise in interest in local produce such as artisan cheeses, organic meat and craft beers, which have proved popular with middle-class shoppers. A tax break for the UK wine industry has also meant that many wine producers will be doing a considerable amount of R&D activity so the tax credits are giving them an opportunity to expand their businesses in other areas. And it's not just about quantity, the quality of English Wine has also seen a surge. Camel Valley have described their 2014 harvest as the Vintage of Dreams picking is complete. A lack of spring frosts, a perfect fruit-set, enough rain in August to swell the crop (even that had the good grace to fall during the hours of darkness) and the driest and warmest September for nearly 100 years came together for a perfect storm of good grape growing news at Camel Valley. Camel Valley winemaker Sam Lindo said: ”It’s been a growing and wine making year to savour; a pleasure to make wine from such fantastic grapes’. And Dave Rackham, at East Sutton Vine Garden reported WELL, THAT'S IT we are done. Cracking good year with lovely fruit and I hope a happy end user that will make some super wine to continue the growing good name for English and Welsh wine.