Chapel Down sees ‘excellent’ 2017 harvest despite Spring frost

Chapel Down has completed an “excellent” harvest this year despite facing difficult English weather, according to the wine producer.

Celebrations for Chapel Down’s CEO Frazer Thompson. Credit: Steve Burton Photography

The drinks maker saw a 10% rise in grape yield since 2016; second highest yield of fruit to date at the completion of their 2017 harvest on Thursday.

The industry saw a difficult start to the growing season, with a number of English vineyards hit by a frost in late April.

But things began to look up this summer. English wine producers told the drinks business they were  more optimistic about this year’s harvest following a strong heatwave in June.

The hot weather helped to mitigate the damage done to vineyards..

Further reducing the risk of frost damage, Chapel Down sourced grapes 23 vineyards across the south of England including sites in Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Essex.

Frazer Thompson, chief executive of Chapel Down Group, said that the combination of an early harvest and good weather throughout the Summer months  contributed to the larger yield.

“Following a challenging start to the season,” he said, “we enjoyed an excellent flowering season in June and a decent English summer in our vineyards.”

He said that quality was high across all varieties, adding that this year the harvest yielded “some truly exceptional parcels of Chardonnay.”

“With demand continuing to exceed our ability to supply, and the quality of wines continuing to improve, this harvest is further positive news for the Group.”

Chapel Down owns the largest vineyard (115 acres) in Kent, the Kit’s Coty estate on the North Downs, while also sourcing grapes from a further 13 vineyards across the South East of England.