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Prime viticultural land for new and expanding vineyards in the UK could be a major rival to the Champagne region of France according to the University of East Anglia (UEA).
A study conducted by the university found an area of about 35,000 hectares in mostly Kent, Sussex and East Anglia was best suited to expand the UK’s vineyard network due to its warm, dry and more stable land.
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During the study every 50 by 50 metre plot of land in England and Wales was tested for its suitability, with geographical analysis techniques used to identify areas ripe for future vineyard investments as well as pinpointing sites which were ‘not that well located’.
Professor Steve Dorling, from the UEA School of Environmental Sciences, said, “This summer’s heatwave has led to a record grape harvest and a vintage year for English and Welsh wine, prompting great interest in investment and land opportunities.
“But despite a trend of warming grape-growing seasons, this season has been quite unusual in terms of weather.
“English and Welsh grape yields are generally quite low and variable by international standards, so we wanted to identify the best places to plant vineyards and improve the sector’s resilience to the UK’s often fickle weather.”
However, those interested are warned that investment in viticulture and wine production is not for the faint-hearted with significant risk associated with this industry.