Sizzling summer temperatures are boosting the prospects for an exceptional 2025 harvest in the United Kingdom, according to industry experts.

The UK's wine industry is gearing up for an exciting harvest season in 2025, with favourable growing conditions and high expectations. According to the Met Office, the mean temperature for the three months to 31 August was a record-breaking 16.1°C, surpassing the previous record of 15.76°C set in 2018.

This warm weather has had a positive impact on the ripening of grapes, with many vineyards anticipating an early start to their harvest. Clem Yates MW, a wine consultant and Lyme Bay Winery, predicts that the harvest will likely commence on 9 September, around three weeks earlier than last year. White Castle Vineyard in Wales expects their harvest to start around 12 September.

Robb Merchant, the owner of White Castle Vineyard, is particularly excited about the flavour profiles, especially with Pinot Noir Precoce and Siegerrebe. However, some young vines planted in 2023 have struggled with the drought during summer 2025, according to Merchant. Despite this, he expects yields in 2025 to be around four times higher than last year, although roughly in-line with average volumes.

Average yields in the UK were the lowest since 2016, according to trade body WineGB. However, UK wineries are hopeful of bouncing back from the rain-hit volumes in the 2024 vintage. Vines to be harvested this year at White Castle Vineyard are looking great, Merchant confirmed.

The vintage of 2025 for sparkling and still wines in the UK is looking promising. Cherie Spriggs, head winemaker at Nyetimber, is quietly optimistic about Vintage 2025, but much depends on the coming weeks. Brad Greatrix, Nyetimber's senior winemaker, states that the warm growing season means an earlier harvest, allowing more time to tailor and optimise the picking timing.

At Woodchester Valley Vineyard in the Cotswolds, picking began on 2 September, which is the earliest start to harvest for the estate. Fiona Shiner, the vineyard's founder, referenced the warm 2018 growing season and compared it to the current year. However, she cautioned that it's too early to tell what the long summer and early harvest mean for the wines at Woodchester Valley Vineyard.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Steiermark (Styria) region in Austria expects a significant increase of around 20% in yield compared to the previous year, projecting a good normal harvest volume of 220,000 to 240,000 hectoliters. Both quality and quantity are looking very promising in this region, with no specific information in the search results about who expects the highest yields in the UK for 2025.

Rain over the past week has been beneficial, particularly for later varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Regent, and Phoenix. Higher sugar levels and lower acidity across the crop are promising conditions for the 2025 vintage, particularly for still wine programs.

As the harvest season approaches, the UK wine industry is filled with anticipation and optimism. With record-breaking temperatures, early starts to harvest, and promising flavour profiles, 2025 could be a vintage to remember.

Sizzling summer temperatures are boosting the prospects for an exceptional 2025 harvest in the United Kingdom, according to industry experts.