English winemaker Gusbourne expects its 2024 harvest to be “considerably smaller” than last year due to a “cool, persistently wet growing season”.
The AIM-listed business said “challenging conditions in the vineyards” had negatively impacted yields, but insisted it would still remain a “high-quality harvest”.
“Many vineyards have suffered with mildew this year and West Sussex in particular is expected to produce significantly less fruit than last year’s bumper harvest,” Gusbourne said in a filing to the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
“The harvest is still expected to be high-quality and Gusbourne’s skilled vineyard team will hand-harvest and hand-select fruit, picking at peak ripeness,” it added.
Early analysis undertaken by the winemaker indicated the presence of “particularly expressive, high-quality pinot noir in Kent”, Gusbourne said.
“The fruit is looking promising, with some beautiful pinot noir,” said Gusbourne CEO Jonathan White. “Acidity is also excellent. We will begin harvest in the coming days.”
Any fruit that did not meet Gudbourne’s high quality standards would be left in the vineyards, White said. As a result, “the 2024 harvest will be considerably smaller in quantity, but we expect the wines to still reflect our usual exceptional quality”, he added.
It comes after Gusbourne was effectively put up for sale in July, when majority shareholder Lord Ashcroft told its board he wished to “explore various strategic options” for his 67% ownership stake.
English sparkling wine rival Chapel Down is also thought to be considering a stake or outright sale as part of an ongoing strategic review.
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