Nyetimber opens England’s earliest harvest yet — five days ahead of 2018
Picking started 14 September across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent — five days before the house’s 2018 record. Head winemaker Cherie Spriggs: late spring frost hit ~30% of crop; summer drought shrunk some berries; hot sun still leaves quality hopes. Target ~2,500 tonnes (~1.5m+ bottles); ~500 pickers; full harvest from 21 Sep.
English sparkling just moved the calendar again.
Nyetimber began picking on Monday 14 September — five days ahead of its previous earliest start in 2018 — across vineyards in West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent. The full harvest is due from 21 September. Head winemaker Cherie Spriggs calls it another unprecedented vintage: late spring frost affected almost 30% of the crop, summer drought shrunk some berries, yet hot, sunny weather has helped balance the ledger and keep quality hopes alive.
The house targets around 2,500 tonnes of grapes — potential for more than 1.5 million bottles from the 2026 vintage — with almost 500 pickers working parcel by parcel by hand. Owner Eric Heerema frames the season as ups and downs on his twentieth year with the estate, with the vineyard team’s work now handing the picture to the cellar.
Mini-concept: an early harvest is a ripening clock, not a panic button. Frost and drought cut volume; heat can still finish flavour if nights and acids hold.
Keep: when an English sparkling house picks in mid-September, ask what the frost took — and what the sun gave back.
Remember: pick start 14 Sep (5 days before 2018); frost ~30%; ~2,500 t / 1.5m+ bottles; ~500 pickers; full harvest from 21 Sep.
Source: The Argus