This allowed winemaking, introduced to Britain by the Romans, to thrive under the Normans before declining, said Richard Selley, author of The Winelands of Britain.
Brohan said the current warming cycle is more severe than the medieval one, and scientists stress carbon dioxide emissions are behind the man-made climate change of the present day. Nonetheless, UK vineyards still struggle to ripen grape varieties, which produce the most popular red wines.
So far, producers have not managed to master the varieties behind the famous full-bodied wines of Bordeaux, such as Merlot and Carbernet Sauvignon, although some have tried to grow these under plastic sheeting. This has yielded reds that are generally lighter in color and taste, and less alcoholic than wines from warmer climates.
Another factor working against English reds is cost. With annual red wine output of around 400,000 bottles and total output of just over 2 million bottles, against 7 billion to 8 billion bottles in France, the industry lacks economies of scale.
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