{"id":4207,"date":"2018-11-09T17:57:16","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T17:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/essex-could-rival-champagne-for-wine-production\/"},"modified":"2018-11-09T17:57:16","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T17:57:16","slug":"essex-could-rival-champagne-for-wine-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/essex-could-rival-champagne-for-wine-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Essex ‘could rival Champagne for wine production’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image caption<\/span>
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\n The Only Grape is Essex: TOWIE star Gemma Collins has been pictured enjoying a fine fizz
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Essex could rival the Champagne region as a major producer of fizz, experts have claimed.<\/p>\n

Scientists identified about 86,000 acres of countryside – with similar traits to the French plonk powerhouse – deemed “prime” land for vineyards.<\/p>\n

The areas, including some in Suffolk, had ideal soil, terrain and climate for grape growing, experts from the University of East Anglia (UEA) said.<\/p>\n

But they also warned budding winemakers to expect expensive set-up costs.<\/p>\n

Climate change had led to “warmer growing seasons” in England and Wales, researchers said. <\/p>\n

As a result, areas “where relatively few vineyards currently exist” could have unexplored winemaking potential.<\/p>\n

‘Fickle weather’<\/h2>\n

They said Essex, more commonly associated with reality star haunt the Sugar Hut, was drier, warmer and more stable than some more established vineyard locations.<\/p>\n

Prof Steve Dorling, from the UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences, said the summer’s heatwave had led to a “record grape harvest” and “a vintage year for English and Welsh wine”.<\/p>\n

But, he said, the season had been “quite unusual in terms of weather” and more work was needed to find the best places to plant vineyards able to withstand the UK’s “often fickle weather”.<\/p>\n

Lead author Dr Alistair Nesbitt echoed Prof Dorling, and said there was “definitely room for improvement” but it was hoped the research could “help boost future productivity”.<\/p>\n

Southend Sparkles<\/h2>\n

Could we one day see these brands on our supermarket shelves?<\/p>\n