UK to plant one million vines in 2017

The UK’s wine industry has announced that it will plant a record one million vines this year, making wine production ‘one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the UK.’

The new vines will cover an area of 625 acres yielding an extra two million bottles, predicted to contribute £50m to the industry.

The area under vine in the UK has been growing rapidly and, within the last ten years, has grown by 135%. The total acreage has tripled since 2000.

Commenting on the feat, viticultural consultant Stephen Skelton MW said: “2017 will see the largest number of vines ever planted in a single year in the UK, and underlines the popularity of both English sparkling and still wines with the wine-buying public. Producers have seen….