Keep bubbles British

The summer season is about to get into full swing. Chelsea is over. Ascot, Henley and Wimbledon loom. The lawns of operatic venues such as Glyndebourne await their picnickers. And one essential for many is a bottle of champagne, or two. Finding the fizz should not be a problem this year; but after storms ravaged the French wine-growing region over the past few weeks, future supplies will be at a premium. Hailstones the size of pigeons’ eggs bombarded the Champagne vineyards, causing damage that will wipe out an estimated eight million bottles worth £110 million, though supplies can be bolstered by past stock. This is a shame for the Champagne houses but an opportunity for producers of highly acclaimed English bubbly – provided they survived the miserable deluge in the south of recent days.