A WINEMAKER is expecting a huge harvest with a record quantity of fruit to be picked despite extreme summer weather.
Nyetimber’s harvest will cover a record area of vines, 325 hectares (803 acres) to be exact, when it begins today, September 29.
Despite the extreme weather conditions during the summer with intense heat and lack of rainfall, the winemaker expects a high quality year with a record volume of grapes to be harvested, in excess of 1,600 tonnes, which will produce well above one million bottles of sparkling wine.
Cherie Spriggs, Nyetimber head winemaker, said: “Given Nyetimber has been in existence for 35 years, we have the experience to make the most of the climate in which we grow our grapes.
“Having estate owned vineyards really plays to our advantage in extreme years like this as it allows us to realign what we do in the vineyard to offset any challenges.
“We expect a record volume of grapes to be picked from what is the largest area of vineyards ever harvested by Nyetimber and most importantly, the quality of the fruit looks fantastic which is very exciting.”
Given the growing demand for its wines, Nyetimber says it aims to produce up to two million bottles a year by 2026.
It has 11 vineyards spanning 350 hectares across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent and this will be the 31st harvest at the estate. The Nyetimber estate is in West Chiltington, near Pulborough.
Last year the company achieved record sales, up 57 per cent on the previous year, and it exported 15 per cent of its production – up from ten per cent in 2020.
It also increased its global presence with new distribution in Germany and China, building on the popularity of the brand in Scandinavia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Nyetimber is served in some of England’s finest hotels, restaurants and clubs including The Ritz, The Savoy, Chewton Glen and Annabel’s.
Thirty years ago, Nyetimber was the first English sparkling wine producer to exclusively grow the three grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Nytimber’s owner, Eric Heerema, works together with head winemaker Cherie Spriggs and winemaker Brad Greatrix to produce "wine of extraordinary elegance and quality".
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