English winemakers expect ‘vintage year’ after record-breaking summer heat

English winemakers are celebrating a record-breaking summer, with early harvests expected to produce exceptional quality grapes for their sparkling wines. The heat has accelerated ripening and promises what producers are calling a 'vintage year' for the region. However, the same drought conditions that benefited wine production have hit barley growers hard, sparking warnings of potential beer shortages as yields plummet across England.