by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Kent faces a wine glut over the next few years, vineyard experts have warned.

Frazer Thompson, managing director of English Wines, Tenterden-based producer of Chapel Down, forecast "an excess of supply over demand".

He said: "In the coming years, there's going to be an explosion in the amount of English wine available."

A glut was likely to affect quality and anybody entering the industry "needs to be absolutely certain about what they are doing it for".

Julian Barnes, of Biddenden Vineyards, echoed those worries.

"I am concerned about the amount of vines going into the ground and whether anybody's thought about whether they're going to sell it."

He said it takes 12 years for vines to settle down and can often take up to 20 years to produce wines of real quality.

Despite recession, Biddenden Vineyards has seen sales leap 40 per cent this year. Mr Barnes said this was due to rising public interest in local produce and buying local to save food miles.

English wine accounts for less than one per cent of the UK market, although sales of high-quality sparkling wine - with Chapel Down now a leading national brand - growing fast.

With French Champagne sales under pressure, English sparklers are expected to grab 10 per cent of the market over the next few years.

Meanwhile, the first grapes from Chapel Down's new vineyard on the North Downs will be harvested this year.

Mr Thompson anticipates a bumper crop of more than 100 tonnes - double the forecast - with the first sparkling wine made from these grapes ready to serve at the Olympic Games in 2012.