The United Kingdom is bracing itself for a dry summer after a leading prosecco manufacturer warned that stocks of the Italian bubbly were drastically down.

Sales of Italian fizz spiked during the recession as cash-strapped punters turned from champagne to prosecco.

But Robert Cremonese, export manager of Italian prosecco producer Bisol, says a bad harvest has resulted in shortages – which could mean prices may drastically rise.

“Last year’s harvest was very poor, and down by up to 50 per cent in some parts, so there is a very real possibility of a global shortage,” he told The Drinks Business.