Nyetimber begins early 2018 harvest

UK winemaker Nyetimber began its grape harvest on September 20, three weeks earlier than normal. The recent warm weather in the UK has brought the promise of a record harvest. 

Nyetimber hopes to harvest enough grapes to produce one million bottles, a first for any solely English sparkling wine producer, at its pressing facility in West Sussex. The joint hottest summer on record since 1976, combined with ideal rainfall, has created the perfect conditions for the vines on Nyetimber’s estate-owned vineyards in West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.

The grapes from this year’s harvest will be processed at Nyetimber’s new £9m pressing facility on its estate, parts of which date back 1086, near West Chiltington in West Sussex. The facility uses both the latest technology, as well as traditional gravity-feed to handle grapes and juice destined for Nyetimber sparkling wines.

Owner and chief executive Eric Heerema says: “Nyetimber has been on a remarkable journey, growing 20-fold in just over a decade. At Nyetimber we are committed to excellence and quality, and our overall vision is to create a brand that will be here for generations to come. Today marks the beginning of what I hope will be our best harvest yet, an important milestone for English sparkling wine which is well on its way to becoming the finest in the world.” 

“Overseeing every detail of the harvest for the past 11 years will be our head winemaker, Cherie Spriggs, so we are in great hands."

Head winemaker Cherie Spriggs says: “We are very excited about this year’s harvest following ideal conditions over the past few months. English sparkling wine is reaching new heights – the fact that Nyetimber is at the forefront of this growth is a testament to our passion and commitment to excellence.”

20 September 2018 - Sam Coyne thedrinksreport, editor