THE final harvest of the year is now in.

The vineyards of Hampshire have been busy with the picking of grapes, largely done by pickers fromn south-east Europe.

Raimes English Sparkling have been busy with the grape harvest in their Cheriton vineyards. Along with the other vineyards in Hampshire they have been dodging the wet weather in October to harvest their champagne grapes.

"The rain has been a challenge for us this late into the season" says Augusta Raimes “but we are pleased to have finished now and can have a well deserved glass of fizz.”

The reputation of sparkling English wine continues to grow and some of the top French producers are said to be looking to purchase land for their own vineyards to capitalise on the chakly soil which is very similar to that of Champagne region in France.