The Guardian reports that English sparkling wine producers are expecting an exceptionally early 2026 harvest after the UK’s record-breaking summer accelerated grape ripening. Nyetimber began picking on 14 September, five days earlier than its previous record, and expects the vintage could produce more than 1.5 million bottles, although late spring frost and drought reduced yields in some vineyards. The combination of smaller berries, concentrated sugars and extensive sunshine has raised expectations for quality while illustrating how rapidly English viticulture is being affected by changing climatic conditions.