Site Selection for Premium English Vineyard

Location: SE England

Aim: Identify the location for a quintessential English vineyard

Problems analysed: Vineyard location and design, varietal selection, spatial variation, climate change, pests and disease, soil pit identification, cover crop maintenance, frost hollow identification

Area covered: 250 acres

Financial impact: Significant plantings have been happening across the United Kingdom with a number of farmers contract growing vines for some of the major English producers. Farmers are looking at the potential benefits of growing vines as the return per tonne for grapes over more traditional crops are not to be ignored. A field of wheat might yield 3 tonnes per acre at around £120 per tonne. Growing grapes could yield 3 to 4 tonnes per acre at around £950 to £1100 per tonne.