Good spring helps vine harvest

A Shropshire vineyard is one of the first in Britain to be harvesting its crop, thanks to a good spring, and a new variety of grape.

The Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, which won the top award in the country last year, says its new white grapes will produce wine naturally high in alcohol.

Owner David Millington said although there may be a slightly smaller crop this year, the quality was promising to be top class.

"Under European regulations this is an unauthorised variety of Solaris, until it has proven itself," he said.

"It is a very sweet grape which does not mean it will be a sweet wine. It means that it produces more alcohol.

"Most grapes in England struggle to make wines of 10 or 11 per cent but this grape is producing, naturally, a wine of 12 per cent alcohol. It is very exciting."

"It takes four or five years for the vines to crop so we are very pleased that the quality is so good."

Mr Millington said the poor summer meant the grapes were smaller than usual.

"However, because of the very good spring there is an early harvest. We are the first in Shropshire and one of the first in the country to be harvesting."