Three cheers for a corker of a summer

Three things are not typically associated with English summers: brilliant blue skies, warmth and smiles. Yet between April and July the amount of sunshine in southern England has exceeded long-term averages by more than 30%.

Happy news for ice cream vendors. Even better for the 460 or so estates that produce wine.

Winemakers such as listed Chapel Down and Gusbourne can choose where to plant their vines. But weather somehow tends to throw a cork in the works wherever they pick. Recently, however, the clouds appear to have parted. There is evidence of significantly more sunshine during the growing season (April through September) over the past two decades.

On average, the majority of English wine-growing regions have seen about eight hours per month more when compared to the years between 1929 and 1980, according to the UK Met Office.

That helps to explain the surge in vines planted — up by 150% in the last decade alone. Admittedly, this is from a small base.

Although the country’s wines have increasingly won international accolades, especially its sparkling ones, the industry remains in its infancy.

It will take more than a few extra hours of sunshine to catch up with rivals. Californian wines began to challenge their French rivals 40 years ago. Growing English chardonnay on the same latitude as Newfoundland remains a tougher challenge.

But the weather trends are at least in vineyard owners’ favour. Time to pour some English liquid cheer. London, August 11.