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Climate change boosts English wine in Surrey

England’s vineyards produced 50 per cent more wine last year to cope with high demand and have tripled in size to 1,880 acres. Climate change seems to be working in the growers’ favour, encouraging the buds to burst earlier and ripen an ever increasing grape crop.

England’s vineyards produced 50 per cent more wine last year to cope with high demand and have tripled in size to 1,880 acres. Climate change seems to be working in the growers’ favour, encouraging the buds to burst earlier and ripen an ever increasing grape crop.

Many of the vineyards welcome visitors – indeed it is even possible to stay overnight on some – and tours and tastings are regular events. The largest wine estate is Denbies in Dorking, Surrey. Its five-year growth plan will increase the vineyard from 265 to 300 acres by 2012. Its earliest ever bud burst was recorded by vineyard manager Sue Osgood on April 14.

Denbies has 15 varieties of vines, and those associated with the warmer French climate are surpassing expectation, enabling the estate to win an increasing number of international awards. The increased yield has enabled a new picking machine, the only one in the UK, to be purchased.

Visitors can see the estate on board an Outdoor Train Tour which runs daily until October, while Indoor Wine Experience tours operate all year. There is a choice of restaurants, a wine and gift shop and garden centre. The on-site farmhouse Bed and Breakfast offers four-star accommodation.

Tel: 01306 876616. Website: www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk


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