York vineyard boss says warming climate helps sector but government doesn't

Local IQ Business Networking event at York St John University. Pictured speaking is Paul Chasney Picture by David Harrison. (Image: David Harrison)

Business leaders heard how a warming climate is boosting vineyards in the UK, at a meeting in York, but the industry faces many challenges.

Paul Chasney of the family-owned Goose Beck Vineyard at Bilton-in-Ainsty spoke of how the vineyard was formed and gave a progress report at the York Press/ York St John University networking event last Thursday.

Goose Beck, located between York and Wetherby was established in 2021 during the pandemic and it harvested its first commercial crop in 2025, producing 5,500 bottles.

4,500 are now available for sale, with the remaining 1,000 undergoing secondary fermentation to become sparkling wine.

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The 8-acre vineyard features more than 15,000 vines across 15 varieties, many of which are 'PIWI' types bred for disease resistance and shorter growing seasons.

Paul said: "Many vineyards don't have a winery. We do. We also have our own tasting room. We are trying to do the whole wine-making experience."

Overall the UK has some 1,200 vineyards, with around 20 in Yorkshire, with ten of them on the Yorkshire Wine Trail, including Goose Beck, with them all producing very different wines.

The UK consumes 587 million bottles a year, but only produces 16-17millionm bottles and Yorkshire 100,000 bottles. The UK has 5,000 hectares under vines, with just 25ha in Yorkshire. But there is dramatic growth, 200 per cent since 2018.

A warming climate means good quality wine can be made throughout the country, Paul explained. There's even vineyards near Aberdeen and the South Coast of England has a climate comparable to the Champagne region of France 50 years ago.

However, a more changeable climate of extremes will be damaging.

The vines with their long roots are fine in the recent warm spell, helped by the clay soils which retain moisture well.

However, sudden heavy rain could split the fruit, fuel disease, leading to a 'dreadful harvest,' Paul continued.

The industry was seeing growing competition with more vineyards, and with the major french houses buying land in Kent, Essex and Suffolk.

Paul told the meeting: "We are going to see English wine made by French people pretty soon."

However, this fledgeling UK industry gets no support from government.

Paul said: "It's disappointing. The government doesn't seem to want to support SMEs."

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Tourism is the key for small vineyards, with Goose Beck also offering holiday accommodation.

Furthermore, artificial intelligence is helping with growing the wines, finding faults and problems to boost the quality and taste.

Paul added: "We have traditional characteristics at Goosebeck. We are doing it in an eco-way where we are not disturbing other things."