Nyetimber, the pioneer of English sparkling wine is predicting a consecutive top-quality vintage this year, as it expects its earliest ever harvest to begin around mid-September; several weeks earlier than the average harvest start date.
Even a typical English summer can produce beautiful sparkling wines, but the warmer weather this year bodes very well for the quality of the 2026 harvest. Throughout the hot UK summer – with July being the hottest month on record – Nyetimber’s grapevines have been resilient through the heatwaves, which will allow the team to harvest at optimum ripeness levels as the fruit has already progressed well.
Although conditions over the next few weeks could still have a significant impact, it is expected that Nyetimber will begin picking around mid-September; roughly 1-3 days earlier than previous early harvests in 2018 and 2025, and weeks earlier than average harvests.
This year has not been without its challenges as Nyetimber experienced severe spring frosts in May, with 30% of its vineyards affected. The warmer summer weather has allowed some of the frost-affected vines to catch-up, meaning that despite yield being compromised, quality will still be high.
Given the high quality anticipated, it is likely that 2026 will be another vintage year. Nyetimber produces both multi-vintage and vintage-dated wines and given that the latter are only made from grapes from one vintage, they are limited to years of distinctive quality.
Nyetimber’s vintage-dated wines have won a plethora of awards in recent years: its Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum won Champion Sparkling Wine at the International Wine Challenge 2025 (the first time in the trophy’s 34-year history that the award went to a wine outside of Champagne), while its prestige cuvée – 1086 by Nyetimber 2010 – won highest-scoring sparkling wine and top overall wine at last year’s ‘Battle of the Bubbles’ at the London Wine Fair; championing over iconic prestige cuvees such as 2013 Dom Pérignon and Krug Grande Cuvée.
Nyetimber head winemaker, Cherie Spriggs says: “We’re hopeful for what this year’s harvest will offer. Despite the challenges that frosts and drought have brought for our vineyard teams, the long, hot summer has also provided excellent growing conditions for our sparkling wines. We’re hoping that Mother Nature remains on our side for the last few weeks leading up to harvest so that this year’s vintage can reach its full potential.”
Nyetimber CEO and owner, Eric Heerema says: “Our vineyard team has had to be very proactive and resilient over the 2026 growing season. It’s yet another season without precedent, where our commitment to 100% estate-owned vineyards means we can tailor our approach for maximum quality. At this stage, it looks like all the effort has paid off and that we’ll be able to produce some top quality wines as a result. I’m looking forward to the beginning of harvest and to tasting wines from this vintage in years to come!”
A true pioneer, Nyetimber was the first producer of English sparkling wine to exclusively grow the three celebrated grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. With 11 vineyards spanning 430 hectares in West Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent, all Nyetimber wines are made from one hundred percent estate-grown grapes – allowing for complete control over every step of the winemaking process from vine to bottle.
