Grape expectations as vineyards thrive

WARMING BRINGS BUMPER CROPS

- By Steph Spyro ENVIRONMENT EDITOR

HUGE CHANGES: Denbie's CEO Chris White. Below left, our Steph Spyro at the site, and right, cellar master Andy Kershaw

DAMP weather and short summers doomed most attempts at quality wine-making in England centuries ago.

But warmer temperatures, which are a threat to production in France and Spain, have become the unlikely secret behind Britain's booming vineyards.

And when it comes to quality grapes, Chris White, the CEO of Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, has just enjoyed his most successful harvest yet.

The boss of the family-run Surrey business told how climate change has completely altered the industry in the UK.

"We've noticed over the past 30 years the growing season has changed dramatically. Religiously, we used to start picking our grapes in early October and finish towards the end of the month, and it sometimes edged into November," he said.

"This year we started on September 5 and finished on October 16. It's incredible how much that has switched over the past three decades."