UK Vineyards Thriving In ‘Perfect Year’

UK vineyards are thriving in what experts are calling a “perfect year.”

Farmers in England are usually a surly lot, dealing with cold winters, trespassers, and the price of milk being so high. One such farmer, Chris White, is actually finding himself having an ideal year in 2013. His grapes are thriving and he couldn’t be happier.

Chris White is the manager of Denbies vineyard near Dorking, and the bumper crop is looking great for November, when he begins bottling various vintages of wine. He says 2013 has been a rare year with incredible weather conditions for growing grapes. The cold snaps killed the bugs, there was no frost at the crucial point of growing in April, and in June, for the span of about 10 days, the vineyards just burst with promise.

UK vineyards used to encounter all sorts of problems and end up with low quality wine as a result. Although it’s nothing in comparison with the 27,000 wineries in France, Denbies is looking to see a record year from its 100,000 vines, producing most of the wine that comes from the UK.

For wine connoisseurs, this most likely means that 2013 English wine will be a good vintage to keep in storage.

Chris White says of the UK vineyards and the incredible crop of grapes this year:

“It’s not just us. UK vineyards are on a roll. From being a doubtful grape-growing country only a few years ago, we are turning out to be a spectacular place to grow them. Our vintners are winning awards and demand now exceeds supply. We are even exporting it. We had a busload of French growers here the other week and they were dead impressed.”

To have French vineyard owners look at your bumper crop in awe must be something to be proud of, especially in a country known for the opposite only last year.

What do you think of the UK vineyards seeing a bumper crop this year?