News

Issues affecting the wine industry and the wine you drink

  • Italy’s 2023 Wine Harvest in Jeopardy

    Italy’s 2023 Wine Harvest in Jeopardy

    Italy’s 2023 wine harvest is projected to decrease by up to 14% due to extreme weather conditions associated with climate change, including intense heat, storms and wildfires, according to agricultural group Coldiretti. An initial forecast predicts a national production of around 43 million hectolitres, down from 50 million in 2022, potentially marking one of the…

  • New Kent Winery Planning Rejected

    New Kent Winery Planning Rejected

    A planning inspector has backed Medway Council’s refusal to allow a £30 million winery, designed by Foster, in Kent. This would have been the UK’s largest winery. This recent decision is another setback for plans to establish a winery, café, and visitor centre in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) near the Cuxton village…

  • Increases in UK Wine Duty

    Increases in UK Wine Duty

    From August 1, 2023, the UK has a new taxation policy on alcohol, primarily based on the drink’s alcohol strength. This change is expected to cause an approximate 9% rise in duty for nearly 90% of all still wine. With an additional 10.1% duty increase linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI), wine drinkers are…