Gloucestershire vineyard launches rival to Beaujolais Nouveau

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 06:08 · Archive

Three Choirs Vineyards in Gloucestershire will release its First Release 2026 wine on November 19, matching the French Beaujolais Nouveau tradition. The vineyard makes a limited number of bottles from grapes harvested just weeks earlier, offering an early taste of the latest vintage and celebrating English winemaking.

Three Choirs has reported its earliest harvest on record. The first grapes were picked on August 20, more than a week ahead of the previous record set in 2025. While many farmers have suffered from high temperatures and a lack of rainfall, vineyards across the UK have flourished.

Winemaker Martin Fowke explained that the vineyard began the practice over 30 years ago to show the UK could rival European competition. He said that earlier harvests now give winemakers more time to fine-tune and balance the wine, using a greater variety of grapes to create complexity and interest. When the tradition first began, harvest typically did not start until the second half of September, leaving little time to complete fermentation and bottling.

How it is being reported

• Vineyard to launch ‘Gloucestershire Nouveau’ on Beaujolais DayThree Choirs Vineyards in Gloucestershire will launch its First Release 2026 wine on November 19, following its earliest harvest on record.Worcester News · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Vineyard to launch ‘Gloucestershire Nouveau’ on Beaujolais DayThree Choirs Vineyards in Gloucestershire will launch its First Release 2026 wine on November 19, following its earliest harvest on record.Malvern Gazette · 14 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Three Choirs Vineyards · Gloucestershire · Martin Fowke

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