A summer of relentless sunshine and timely rainfall has brought record-breaking success to eastern England’s vineyards.
The region, particularly East Anglia, is celebrating a standout grape harvest that has combined both exceptional quality and abundant yields — a rare double win for winemakers in the UK.
Flint Vineyard, located on the Norfolk–Suffolk border near Bungay, exemplifies this success. “This year has been almost perfect,” said vineyard manager Dan Kirby. He explained that while 2022 saw extreme heat and drought stress, 2025’s growing season offered a more balanced pattern: warm days interspersed with occasional rain that allowed vines to flourish. The eight-hectare estate recently expanded its plantings to include Bacchus and Pinot Noir for still wines, as well as new hybrid varieties designed for sparkling production — a move that underscores the region’s growing confidence in its terroir.
Co-founder Ben Witchell echoed the optimism, noting that reduced frost pressure this year helped deliver bumper crops. “It has been a good year; we’ve had high yields and high quality,” he said. Flint Vineyard is now investing in additional wine presses to handle the increased output and meet rising demand for English wines.
The success story is not limited to Flint Vineyard. Across the United Kingdom, the wine industry continues its upward trajectory. The number of vineyards has grown by 7% over the past year, now exceeding 1,100 sites. Meanwhile, wine tourism has surged dramatically, with a 55% increase in visitors — translating to around 1.5 million people visiting UK vineyards over the past 12 months.
Nick Watson, a grape grower and consultant at WineGB, highlighted that the boom in viticulture also supports rural employment. “Vineyards employ about 20 percent more labour than traditional farms,” he noted, adding that by 2040, up to 30,000 people could be working in the UK’s vineyard sector.
East Anglia’s climatic advantages play a pivotal role in this progress. As one of Britain’s driest and sunniest regions, it offers near-ideal growing conditions for aromatic white varieties like Bacchus and hybrid grapes such as Solaris and Reichensteiner, as well as Pinot Noir for both still and sparkling wines.
Industry figures are now urging the UK government to provide further support to this fast-growing sector. Beyond the economic value, vineyards are seen as key players in rural regeneration — driving tourism, creating jobs, and strengthening local supply chains.
With climate conditions increasingly favourable and consumer interest in English wines continuing to rise, East Anglia’s record harvest marks more than just a good year — it signals a defining moment in the evolution of British winemaking.
Source: Vinetur