British winemakers celebrating a bumper crop - after boiling weather sparks grape growth
Little Waddon Vineyard, a small boutique vineyard on the Dorset Downs, was left reeling last year after the wet conditions wiped out most of its crop.
But it has bounced back with a flourish in the baking heat of 2025 with impressive yields for its Seyval Blanc, Regent and Phoenix grape varieties.
Simon and Karen Priestman bought the vineyard in 2018 after he had spent 40 years as a cameraman.
They had no wine growing experience but now make award-winning English sparkling and red wine from their two acres of vines, with bottles that go for up to £42 each.
When they do tours at their vineyard near Weymouth, visitors tell them it is like being in the south of France.
Simon, 64, said: 'It's been such a cracking year right from the off and we had a really good flowering.
'It was warm and we didn't have any rain and prior to that didn't have a frost so we had good fruit set.
'The result was a uniform array of berries as we have had consistently strong sunshine.
'We are not bothered about the lack of rain as our vines punch their way down to find water where they want it.
'Visitors to the farm say it is like the south of France but we proudly say 'this is Dorset'.
'Last year was a disaster as it was so wet and we don't use herbicides or pesticides to control mildew, so it is a complete turnaround.
'Karen and I bought the vineyard in 2018 having never grown a grape before and now we make award-winning wine.'
It comes as the UK has been experiencing hotter summers than ever, with Brits battling temperatures as high as 35C.
And it seems the fourth heatwave of summer could last for a week as temperatures make the country hotter than Ibiza - as UK health authorities warn of a rise in deaths.
A yellow heat alert has been extended until Monday, with temperatures expected to hit 30C over the weekend.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said warnings will now be in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, London and the South East, South West and east of England until 6pm on August 18.
And if the hot weather continues, British vineyards could become the norm across the country.
According to a new report, higher temperatures will provide perfect conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon further north including in Yorkshire.
In the UK, Cabernet Sauv could be grown as far as Hull in Yorkshire by 2100, as well as all over the Midlands, East Anglia, south Wales and south England, and over more of northern Europe too.
Scientists think that as the climate warms, more of the UK will offer ideal growing conditions for the grape, which thrives in hot, sunny climates.
However, Scotland will still be too cold for Cabernet Sauv even by 2100, while much of Mediterranean Europe will be too hot.
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