This year brings another unprecedented vintage as we begin harvesting earlier than ever.
Nyetimber, one of the pioneers of English sparkling wine, began picking grapes on September 14, 2026, the earliest harvest in its nearly 40-year history, five days ahead of its previous earliest start in 2018, after the UK's hottest summer since temperature records began in 1884.
The West Sussex-based producer, with 11 vineyards across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, had planned to start the following week but brought the date forward after certain vines reached optimal ripeness. The main harvest began in earnest on September 21, with around 500 pickers expected to take part, collecting up to 170 tonnes per day, and the pick running into early October. Nyetimber expects to harvest about 425 of its 430 hectares, yielding almost 2,500 tonnes of grapes and potentially more than 1.5 million bottles of sparkling wine from the 2026 vintage.
"This year brings another unprecedented vintage as we begin harvesting earlier than ever," said head winemaker Cherie Spriggs. She said the hot and sunny weather had helped balance out challenges including late spring frosts that affected almost 30 percent of the crop and a summer drought that decreased the size of certain berries, giving what she described as strong potential for fantastic wine quality.
A record-breaking summer
The Met Office reported that England and Wales recorded their driest July on record, while southern England, where many producers are based, saw its driest month ever recorded. The UK also experienced its sunniest July on record, with temperatures in England peaking at 38.1C at Kew Gardens on August 13.
Wine GB, the trade association, said it was "optimistic" about the size and quality of the UK harvest, reporting healthy vineyards, clean fruit and good ripening. Its CEO, Nicola Bates, said producers had shown exceptional skill in a season that delivered frost, hailstorms and a heatwave within weeks of each other, and that vineyard management was delivering healthy, high-quality fruit, though the next few weeks would be crucial.
Vintage-year hopes
Nyetimber believes 2026 could be a vintage year, in which it could produce some or all of its Blanc de Blancs, Tillington Single Vineyard, 1086 by Nyetimber and 1086 by Nyetimber Rose. Head viticulturist Ben Kantsler said the main benefit of the early start was "the opportunity to pick the grapes at optimal ripeness," rather than waiting and risking exposure to rain or disease. CEO and owner Eric Heerema, in his 20th year of owning Nyetimber, said the estate's full ownership of its vineyards gave it complete control in dealing with frosts and drought, and that he expected great quality from the 2026 vintage.
Wine GB held its Trade and Media Tasting at Old Billingsgate on September 7, with more than 80 producers, as the association urged hospitality, retail and tourism to get behind the fast-growing English and Welsh wine category. Scientists have attributed this summer's heat to global warming, with the Met Office reporting that "the climate of the 20th Century has now gone," a statement that frames both the promise and the uncertainty for the country's wine industry.