Video: Grape pickers at
Chapel Down's vineyard in Blue Bell Hill are set for a bumper
harvest

by Jess Banham

Last weekend's heat wave was a great way to finish off the
summer but it's also expected to make 2011 a sensational year for
wine.

Chapel Down has already started to harvest grapes at their
vineyards in Tenterden and Blue Bell Hill and vineyard manager
Richard Lewis said the quality of grapes is set to be
exceptional.

He added: "This late Indian summer we've enjoyed has really
accelerated the accumulation of sugar in the berries and we had a
very warm early spring too so the vines started growing much
earlier in the season."

The industry was also classed as phenomenal last year, with
English producers turning out a record-breaking four million
bottles, up by around a million on the previous 12 months.

To have a look at the grape pickers in action, watch our
video report above.