English wine’s golden age faces a tiny villain

Just as English and Welsh vineyards are celebrating their best harvest on record after the driest summer in decades, a tiny pest called spotted wing drosophila is emerging as a growing headache for growers. Unlike other fruit flies, SWD can actually pierce grape skin to lay its eggs, creating entry points for rot rather than just exploiting existing damage. The insect has quietly established itself across vineyards in the region and industry leaders are now starting to develop strategies to manage what could become a significant threat to future vintages.