Post by ezekiel on Jan 1, 2013 16:38:52 GMT
Extreme weather: 'Turbulent times ahead' for UK
We're always accused of being obsessed with the weather in the UK - but this year we've had a good excuse.
In 2012, we've swung from droughts to floods, hot to cold.
The impact has been felt far and wide, not least by the UK's burgeoning wine industry.
With over 400 acres of vineyards in Hampshire and Sussex, Nyetimber grows the same variety of grapes that are found in the Champagne region in France.
The company has been working to put English sparkling wine on the map, but this year it hasn't had much to celebrate.
"Nyetimber's [vines] have been planted since 1988, and 2012 is the first year we said there is no way we can make wine," says Cherie Spriggs, a wine-maker at the company.
Torrential rain and cool temperatures meant their grapes were not up to standard.
"It came to early October, and we were evaluating the fruit and tasting it, and we just said this isn't going to happen.
"The quality of the fruit was just not at the level that we needed in order to make sparkling wine at the quality we are striving for."
Cancelling the harvest, she says, felt like a kick in the stomach.
Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20803992
Related stories:
We're always accused of being obsessed with the weather in the UK - but this year we've had a good excuse.
In 2012, we've swung from droughts to floods, hot to cold.
The impact has been felt far and wide, not least by the UK's burgeoning wine industry.
With over 400 acres of vineyards in Hampshire and Sussex, Nyetimber grows the same variety of grapes that are found in the Champagne region in France.
The company has been working to put English sparkling wine on the map, but this year it hasn't had much to celebrate.
"Nyetimber's [vines] have been planted since 1988, and 2012 is the first year we said there is no way we can make wine," says Cherie Spriggs, a wine-maker at the company.
Torrential rain and cool temperatures meant their grapes were not up to standard.
"It came to early October, and we were evaluating the fruit and tasting it, and we just said this isn't going to happen.
"The quality of the fruit was just not at the level that we needed in order to make sparkling wine at the quality we are striving for."
Cancelling the harvest, she says, felt like a kick in the stomach.
* * *
Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20803992
Related stories:
Climate change evident across Europe, says report (www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20408350)
Summer 'wettest in 100 years', Met Office figures show: (www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19427139)
Why, oh why, does it keep raining?: (www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18783422)
