WILTSHIRE producers were keeping their fingers crossed for a vintage harvest this year as sunshine and rain heralded the start of English Wine Week.

The national campaign intended to raise awareness of fine wines produced in vineyards up and down the country, features tastings, tours and even a fundraiser for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

At the Pear Tree in Purton, where they grow and harvest the grapes for their own rose, white and sparkling wines, they are hoping for kinder weather this season.

“This year it has been quite difficult to say. Last year wasn’t good. The weather was really not what we needed,” manager Alix Young told the Advertiser.

“In a year when you can have daffodils out on Christmas Day and East Sunday, something is going wrong with the weather.”

She explained last year’s wine was improved by the winery the hotel uses in Staffordshire with the addition of some of their own grapes to round off the flavour.

“So far it isn’t looking too bad. If we can keep some of this weather with sunny days and some rain overnight then we will be on for a brilliant year.” But she stressed it was very early days.

The vineyard usually produces in the region of 600 bottles a year and all are used by the hotel, often for weddings and other events.

Harvesting the 600 vines in September is done with the help of a small volunteer team of friends from the village and family who are rewarded with a bottle and a meal. But sometimes past guests are keen to return and join in. “It’s a really nice community thing.”

Among the events are a wine tasting at Whatley Manor, Easton Grey on June 3, a vinyard tour of a’Becketts near Devizes on June 2 and a wine tasting at Whitehall Garden Centre in Lacock on June 3.

For more information about events being run during English Wine Week visit englishwineproducers.co.uk