English vineyards to grow by over 8 per cent this year

This year will see an estimated 85 hectares (210 acres) of English countryside being planted with vines. This will increase our vineyard area by over eight per cent and means we will be able to make nearly half a million extra bottles of wine.

A third of this planting will be by Chapel Down, the UK’s largest producer. Managing Director Frazer Thompson told ThirtyFifty, ‘We have 22 acres [8.9 hectares] at Chapel Down and also source from 180 acres [73 hectares] in Essex, Kent and Sussex. In the last two seasons we planted another 125 acres [50.6 hectares] and we’re expecting to plant 70 acres [28 hectares] this year and every year for the foreseeable future.’ In fact, Frazer said, ‘If there’s an opportunity to go for more than that, we will.’

The reason for such a vigorous planting schedule is simple – English wine is in demand. As Frazer put it, ‘It’s now profitable, exciting and a growing market. The message has finally got through that English wine is extremely good and worth paying extra for.’

With the UK’s growing reputation for sparkling wine, it’s not surprising that 90 per cent of Chapel’s Down’s plantings will be of the Champagne varieties – Chardonnay and the Pinots Noir and Meunier. However, Frazer said the company will also plant a small amount of grapes such as Bacchus and Pinot Blanc ‘for a little bit of interest’.