Growing wine in the UK has its weather challenges. But sometimes everything is perfect, and 2025 was one such year, an exceptional year for wine from England and Wales.
Total production increased by 55% compared to 2024. More than 16.5 million bottles of wine were produced in England and Wales in 2025.
According to WineGB, the 2025 vintage benefited from a remarkably warm, dry growing season, resulting in both high yields and good fruit ripening. An early, dry spring allowed the vines to grow quickly, while unusually warm weather in June and July accelerated ripening. Southern England experienced four heatwaves during that period, creating the conditions for what is being described as the earliest and ripest grape harvest on record in the country.
Most English wine is sparkling and is made primarily from pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier, which together account for 70% of the plantings. Other important grapes are pinot gris and hybrids such as solaris and bacchus. Great Britain has around 4800 ha of vines, slightly less than e.g. Saint Emilion or Chablis.
Read more: food
