Rathfinny expects excellent vintage after record-breaking summer

By Oliver Catchpole

Published: 14 August, 2026

As harvest approaches, Rathfinny Wine Estate has reported encouraging signs of quality in its vineyards, with yields expected to be 30% higher than last year, and the fruit showing ‘exceptional promise’.

This comes after the South Downs of Sussex – where the leading English producer is based – experienced one of its driest (and hottest) summers on record, with both Kent and Sussex officially entering drought status this week.

Despite this lack of rainfall, Rathfinny’s vines have remained healthy and balanced, which the estate attributed to its chalk soils and position only three miles from the coast.

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Chalk acts as a natural reservoir, capable of storing over 400 litres of water per cubic metre beneath the surface, and releasing it gradually during prolonged dry periods, while the sea naturally moderates temperature and frost risk.

Co-founder and co-owner, Mark Driver (pictured), explained: “2026 will be a landmark year for English Wine. Yields at Rathfinny are looking up 30% on last year and the quality is superb.

“Being close to the sea we avoided the late spring frost, and our chalk soils have helped us mitigate the drought as it holds water. The final quality will be amazing, and a lot of people will be tempted to make more still wine this year, but the Sussex Sparkling will be fantastic, similar to 2018 and 2020. It will be a vintage to savour.”

Driver's confidence reflects the continuous favourable growing conditions the estate has experienced throughout the season.

Strong and healthy early shoot growth due to good soil moisture during the spring was followed by a hot, sunny summer that encouraged consistent ripening – supporting both flavour concentration.

Final yields will depend on berry size and weather conditions over the coming weeks, but for now, the estate said that 2026 could be one of its “most exciting vintages to date”.

Beyond Rathfinny, Harpers has previously reported that Wine GB has expressed optimism about the overall size and quality of the UK harvest.

These expectations come after a summer that has broken multiple records for heat and lack of rainfall around the country, with England and Wales recording its driest July on record, and its sunniest month ever.

The Met Office has said that this is likely to be the warmest summer on record – potentially beating the previous peak, which was set only last year.

This shift in weather is attributed by scientists to man-made climate change, which so far has been a boon to the English and Welsh wine industry.

Vines have thrived in this dry heat, while other crops have been less fortunate – with many farmers losing produce to the sun and lack of rainfall.

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