Telford vineyard experiences ‘best year’ due to summer heat

A vineyard owner in Shropshire has said 2025 has been his “best year” for harvesting due to the sustained hot weather.

Rob Greenow purchased Veenow in Telford in 2020 with his wife Katie and said the year’s weather had helped fight off mildew, which could harm the health and yield of grapevines.

But the heat has also made the fruit “pack more punch and flavour”, which Mr Greenow said would “shine through” when they made their wine later in the year.

“For grape quality, vine health and just overall vineyard growing it’s been the best year I’d say that we’ve had,” he said.

Provisional statistics from the Met Office has indicated that summer 2025 in the UK could be one of the warmest on record.

The organisation has calculated the UK’s mean temperature between 1 June and 17 August was 16.2C (61.16F), which is 1.6C above the long-term average.

Mr Greenow added: “The dryness and the breeze has helped with the mildew risk, which for looking after the grapes is a big help.

“But the heat and the sun units – I think in May we had more sun units than the whole of last year which was just cloudy and grey.

“This year, the vines can really get to the top of the trellis and the roots are really down deep into our sandstone soil.”

Discussing the challenges faced by other farmers, Mr Greenow said it was a “big shame”.

“It’s just the variable weather we’re seeing and I think that’s climate change kicking in,” he said.

“I speak to my mates and they’re seeing either a very low yield of grass or wheat, and I think this winter is going to be tough for anyone, especially in the livestock industry.

“But it’s swings and roundabouts in a damp wet year, which would cause us to struggle with the risk of mildew but that’s farming.

“It’s always a challenge and it’s tough being a farmer.”