IT has been a "tough year" weather wise for the 16 varieties of wine grapes grown at the Three Choirs vineyard.

Even the deliciously warm south facing slopes of the Newent vineyard could not compensate for the record rainfall and lack of sunshine.

As a result yields are low and instead of the usual 250-300,000 bottle annual harvest it is expected to fall to 150,000 this year.

Following on from last year's equally abysmal weather washout, it has been a rough time for British vineyards.

Despite the weather, spirits are high at Three Choirs where the annual harvest is in full swing.

A team of up to 20 pickers are busy gathering the grapes ready for the alchemic process which will turn the rather sorry looking fruit into one of the two sparkling and six still white, one rose and three red wine varieties which are produced at Three Choirs.

Managing director Thomas Shaw is upbeat – Three Choirs had a spectacular run between 1996-2006 and the reputation of English wines - particularly the whites – has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last five years.

"We have 16 varieties, some have been fairly happy with the weather but the vast majority have said 'this has been a tough year', the yield is going to be fairly low.

"The grapes have stayed small yet you imagine with all the moisture in the ground they would just be full of water and more or less useless to us but they haven't done that.

"They have stayed small and the flavours are quite concentrated. There will be some good quality from this year but there will not be a lot of it though."

Apart from the classic French Pinot Noir, the grape varieties are not household names and have been chosen for their ability to adapt to the cooler climate in the UK.

Varieties including Schonburger, Madeleine Angevine, Muller Thurgau, Seyval Blanc and Rondo fill the vines which cover 75 acres of stunning Gloucestershire countryside.

Three Choirs is a Gloucestershire – and a British – success story.

It started out as the dream of one man wine lover Alan McKechnie, who planted half an acre of vines to see what he could create.

He knew that the Romans used to grow wine grapes in Britain 2,000 years ago and believed the south facing slopes and free draining sandstone soil at Three Choirs would see the successful return of winemaking to the UK.

He was right.

"The reputation of English wine has changed dramatically and over the last five years in particular, we've been winning competitions around the world," said Mr Shaw.

"English sparkling wines have a very good reputation as have English still whites, and the reds are getting better so it's good times for English wine."

The harvest at Three Choirs begins in September with the Siegerrebe variety and finishes with the robust Pinot Noir in November.

Each variety is analysed before picking to ensure the perfect balance of sugar and acidity.

The bunches are cut with as little stem as possible and then fermented in the Three Choirs winery before being blending.

Britain's cool temperature ensures the grapes retain a fresh character and the flavour is not "boiled away" under a hot sun.

Even winemakers in Southern Europe and Australia are planting vineyards on hills and mountains to try and keep their fruit cool and capture that fresh character.

If you would like to find out more about Three Choirs visit the company's website: three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk