East Anglia's "burgeoning" vineyards are at the forefront of a rapid expansion in the nation's wine industry - which has now made grapes one of our fastest-growing crop sectors.
Vineyards are now the fastest-growing edible agricultural crop sector in England, according to new statistics issued by Defra.
The figures show that grapes now represent 36pc of England’s soft fruit crop, with strawberries and blackcurrants in second place at 21pc each.
This growth looks set to continue as industry body Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) has reported a 74pc growth in vine plantings in the last five years to 4,300ha - and that figure is expected to reach 7,600ha by 2032, yielding a potential 24.7m bottles.
And that trajectory is reflected in East Anglia, which is building a rising reputation for producing some of the country's best wines.
WineGB's regional membership in the east has grown from 50-60 members five years ago to 81 in 2023 - including 12 new plantations this year.
Linda Howard, who runs the Giffords Hall Vineyard at Hartest, near Bury St Edmunds, is a committee member for WineGB East.
She said the region is now well-placed to capitalise on its climate, its provenance, and the opportunities for wine tourism.
"I have been doing this for 25 years, and since then the whole thing has grown exponentially," she said. "It is burgeoning in East Anglia.
"East Anglia is one of the driest regions, you don't need a huge amount of water for grapes, and what we have noticed is small areas of provenance starting to spring up, such as Crouch Valley Vineyards, and Norfolk Vineyards. In May I had the first wine market for the Stour Valley vineyards.
"And as a region we are starting to make a name for producing some very good red wines too."
The region's vineyards are beginning to see the use of mechanical harvesters, said Mrs Howard, but there is a need for more wineries to keep up with the demand from Suffolk growers - something which has been illustrated by the challenges of this year's bumper grape harvest.
"The one thing we lack is wineries," she said. "There have not been enough wineries to process the grapes being produced, especially this year.
"It has been a very challenging harvest, with a huge volume this year. At my winery here we bought in 4,000 litres of extra capacity because we didn't have the tank space.
"We tend to be growers in this part of the country - but if the demand is there, the wineries will follow.
"And it is all about creating jobs - vineyards and wineries are very labour intensive."
Scientists have predicted climate change could make East Anglia a potential hotspot for winemaking.
Meanwhile the weather and financial challenges facing traditional agriculture - including the withdrawal of EU subsidies after Brexit - is prompting farmers to consider vineyards as a potential source of new revenues.
"I have had so many farmers coming to me and asking about this, whether it can make money," said Mrs Howard.
"I think it is becoming harder and harder to become a farmer, which is a shame. But with the loss of the single farm payment, farmers are seeking to diversify."
WineGB says the growth in vineyards has heralded the emergence of "wine tourism", which is becoming an increasingly important revenue for vineyards and winemakers offering tours, tastings, restaurants and accommodation.
"Tourism is a vital part of this," said Mrs Howard.
"There is a big connection between the tourist industry and vineyards.
"A lot will offer a cafe or accommodation or weddings, and this is quite a foodie area, we have got Michelin-starred eateries, so it all works together."
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