In 2019 English winegrowers had to dodge a number of bullets. An early budburst meant that they were potentially exposed to Spring frosts, but blowers and bougies largely saw off that challenge. Then just as it looked as though persistent cold, wet weather might threaten the flowering season, the skies cleared and warm, dry, conditions ensured a successful fruit set.

But even then it still wasn’t all plain sailing. Intermittent damp conditions meant that disease pressures were a frequent threat. And for much of the harvest period it either rained or threatened to rain.  All this and more is documented in the English Winegrowing Season 2019 report (pdf). It was a year when vineyard managers certainly earned their keep.