Global warming is having a marked effect on wine-producing areas. Many of those regions that traditionally excel at making wine are slowly becoming too warm to produce decent harvests, while other areas are on the verge of becoming warm enough to do just that. The southern counties of England make up one area which is well placed to take advantage of warming temperatures.
The Growth of English Vineyards
While warmer weather cannot be guaranteed – 2008 was particularly rainy – the general trend has been towards warmer temperatures in recent years. 2007 was the second warmest year in the UK in 356 years. The result has been that more and more English land is becoming suitable for wine production.
Today, there are around 400 vineyards in England across Kent, Hampshire, Essex and Sussex and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reports that production in 2006 was just over 3.3 million bottles. Wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd Future of Wine Report in 2008 believes the amount of English farmland devoted to wine production may rival that of France by 2058.
The report also notes that French Champagne producers such as Louis Roederer have been looking at the chalky soil of the South Downs with interest, believing it offers them a great opportunity to produce sparkling wines similar to Champagne itself.
English Sparkling Wines Hit the Big Time
Recent international blind-tasting competitions saw some English sparkling wines triumphing over the best Champagnes. In 2007, English wines collected a record number of medals at the International Wine Challenge, the world’s biggest blind-tasting competition.
Tim Atkin, a chairman of the awards, told Martin Hickman of The Independent: "English wine is finally showing that it should no longer be regarded as a cottage industry but as an industry which can produce world-class wines." (“English wines toast record haul of prizes in world tasting contest”, The Independent, 23 May 2007). The gold and silver medals came from four vineyards. Greenfields, from the 265-acre Denbies estate in Surrey, won the gold, while Chapel Down winery in Kent, Ridgeview in East Sussex and Camel Valley in Cornwall picked up silver. In 2008, the sparkling Classic Cuvee 2001 from the Nyetimber Vineyard won Gold "Best in Class" in the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Wine has had a long, if fitful, history in England from the time of the Romans onwards. Climate permitting, it looks as though that history will continue.
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