Rising temperatures in England fostering growth in the country's vineyards

Rising temperatures in England fostering growth in the country's vineyards

In recent years, England's wine industry has experienced a significant transformation, thanks in large part to the warming effects of climate change. This shift has opened up new opportunities for high-quality production and international recognition, but it has also introduced new risks that vintners must navigate.

Since the 1970s, average growing-season temperatures in southern England have risen by about two degrees Celsius, making regions like Essex and Oxfordshire more suitable for cultivating high-quality grape varieties such as pinot noir, chardonnay, and bacchus. This warming trend has extended the growing season, particularly with longer, warmer Septembers, allowing vineyards to produce larger yields and more consistent crops.

One company adapting to the changing temperatures is Roebuck Estates, founded in 2013 and having six vineyards in southern England. Like most wine producers in the UK, Roebuck Estates primarily makes sparkling wine as the grapes require less time to ripen compared to still wine. However, research conducted by Alex Biss in 2023 found that the type of grapes Britain will grow in the future could change, meaning England may be producing still wines as well as sparkling.

While warmer temperatures have fuelled the industry’s expansion, they have also brought new challenges. The weather in England remains very unpredictable and erratic, with no two years being the same. Despite warming, damaging frosts can still occur late into the spring, sometimes wiping out up to 50% of a vineyard’s harvest in a single event. Increased rainfall and damp conditions during key parts of the season bring pest and disease pressures that growers must manage carefully.

Looking to the future, while warmer temperatures have enabled the English wine industry to flourish and attract investment—including government support schemes like the Future Winemakers’ Scheme—winemakers must remain vigilant and adaptive to increasingly erratic weather patterns. Balancing the benefits of longer growing seasons with the risks of frost, disease, and climate unpredictability will be the main challenge for sustaining growth.

In fact, the growth of England's wine industry is part of a wider climate adaptation effort. Alex Biss, from the University of Reading, warns that the agricultural sector as a whole is having to ask questions around what type of crops can be grown in the future due to climate change. According to Biss, England may potentially start producing still wines in the future, and overall, there are approximately 4,000 hectares of land "under vine" in Britain, with forecasts predicting it could almost double by 2032.

This growth is evident in the South Downs National Park, where many English vineyards are located. There has been a 90% increase in the past decade, and an average of five new vineyards are grown there every year. However, the industry's location near the northern limits of viable viticulture means climate extremes and variability create ongoing risks.

Last month, the World Weather Attribution group at Imperial College London warned that climate change was contributing to the extreme weather conditions being experienced in England. Jake Wicks, head of viticulture at Roebuck Estates, has worked in vineyards around the world and mentions that areas in southern France and Spain are struggling with water availability for vine cultivation. In this context, water management will be crucial for the continued success of England's wine industry.

In conclusion, climate change has been both a catalyst for growth and a source of risk for England's wine industry, creating opportunities for high-quality production and global recognition but also demanding greater resilience and innovation from vintners. As the world gets warmer, such events will become more frequent, and the industry must adapt to thrive.

1. Due to rising temperatures and changes in the agricultural sector, there may be a shift towards growing still wines in England, as suggested by research conducted by Alex Biss in 2023.
2. English vintners, like those at Roebuck Estates, are increasingly focusing on water management to respond to the climate change-induced extreme weather conditions affecting the wine industry.
3. As the wine industry in England grows, it is part of a broader effort to adapt to climate change, with specialists like Alex Biss from the University of Reading discussing the potential for various crops, including still wines, to be cultivated in England in the future.

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