WineGB
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WineGB Launches First Sustainability Impact Report
WineGB has launched its first Sustainability Impact Report (pdf) to coincide with the International Day of Climate Action, marking significant progress in its Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) initiative. In just four years, SWGB now covers 43% of UK vines, with 79 members, 31 completing their first audit, and 13 receiving gold certification for…
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WineGB Trade and Press Tasting
The WineGB Trade and Press Tasting, in early September 2024, offered an impressive selection, showcasing over 300 wines from 80 producers. The event featured individual exhibitor stands, regional vineyard association stands and themed tasting tables. English sparkling wine has reached an exceptional level of quality, frequently rivalling and occasionally surpassing some of the finest Champagnes….
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Brit-Nat: A New Wave for the UK Wine Industry?
The Buyer Magazine has an article on how Brit-Nat, a category of British pét-nat, might disrupt the UK wine industry. Pét-nat is an emerging style in English and Welsh winemaking that contrasts sharply with traditional English sparkling wine. Whereas traditional English sparkling represents the established norms, Brit-Nat embodies a countercultural ethos with its non-conformist, artisanal…
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Kingscote Sparkling
Unusually, this review of English Kingscote Sparkling begins with its price. Originally sold at £18 in Tesco, it recently became discounted to £12 and then available for a mere £9 during a special 25% off offer. But how does an Sparkling English wine, typically retailing at £20 or much more, end up at such a…
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WineGB Awards 2024 Trophy Winners
At this year’s WineGB Awards, wines from 13 counties won trophies, with a record number of Gold medals awarded. The ceremony was held on 19 July at The Drapers’ Hall in London. Kent’s Chapel Down was the standout winner, claiming Supreme Champion, Top Sparkling Wine, Best Prestige Cuvée, the South East Trophy, Best Chardonnay, Joint…
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UK Surpasses 1,000 Vineyards
UK vineyards have surpassed the milestone of 1,000 vineyards, marking a 9.2% increase from the previous year, with 1,030 vineyards now registered. Sales of English and Welsh wines grew by 10% in 2023. There are now 221 wineries, and the total area under vine has reached 4,209 hectares, reflecting a 123% growth over the past…
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WineGB Awards Winners
The eighth WineGB Awards saw a record-breaking number of entries and gold medals, with wines from 33 counties across England and Wales receiving accolades. Over 350 medals were awarded: 177 for sparkling wines and 174 for still wines, with a significant increase in gold medals for still wines compared to 2023. Notable categories included Classic…
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UK Vineyard Visits Surge
A new WineGB tourism report (PDF) reveals a significant rise in vineyard visits in the UK, with a 55% increase in two years. The report highlights WineGB’s initiatives to support wine tourism and outlines seven policy changes it urges the government to implement to boost growth. The report shows that 300 vineyards and wineries are…
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Vines in a Cold Climate
‘Vines in a Cold Climate’ by Henry Jeffreys is an exploration into the world of viticulture in the United Kingdom. Cleverly titled as a nod to Nancy Mitford’s “Love in a Cold Climate,” the book looks into the complexities and nuances of establishing a successful vineyard in a climate traditionally considered unsuitable for wine production….
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Britain’s Record-Breaking 2023 Grape Harvest
WineGB has released ‘2023 Harvest Report – the big one‘ (PDF). The report estimates a production of 20-22 million bottles, a very large 50% increase from the previous record year in 2018. This bountiful harvest is attributed to exceptional performance from the top grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Bacchus – with the…
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White Castle Vineyard Triumphs at 2023 Welsh Wine Awards
The Welsh wine industry celebrated the 2023 Welsh Wine Awards, held at the Llanerch Vineyard Hotel in Hensol on 6 November, 2023. The awards, marking their most successful year yet, were organised by the Welsh Vineyards Association (WVA) . In a year that also commemorates WVA’s tenth anniversary, the competition saw a record-breaking entry of…
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What is Sustainable Wine?
Sustainable wine covers a range of practices aimed at diminishing the adverse impacts of wine production on the planet while ensuring the long-term viability for the industry. At the core of sustainable wine are organic and biodynamic practices. These are concerned with minimising the negative environmental impact of farming and food production and promoting soil…
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Rapid Growth of Vineyards Bolsters England’s Agricultural Sector
Vineyards have emerged as the fastest-growing edible agricultural sector in England, according to recent DEFRA statistics, with grapes now constituting 36% of the country’s soft fruit crop, marking a sector growth rate of 21% over the past year. Wines of Great Britain has reported a significant growth in vine plantings by 74% over five years…
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Who are WineGB?
The UK wine production industry has seen a remarkable surge in recent years, and at the forefront of this burgeoning sector is Wines of Great Britain Limited, commonly known as WineGB. Established on 1st September 2017, WineGB emerged from the merger of two key industry bodies: the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) and English Wine…
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WineGB Trade & Press Tasting
On the 5th of September 2023, I went to the annual WineGB Trade & Press Tasting, where 312 wines from English and Welsh producers were on display. The event had separate stands for individual exhibitors, stands that represented regional vineyard associations with smaller commercial producers on display and special tables emphasising the diverse wine styles…
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WineGB Industry Report
The wine industry in England and Wales has been experiencing great growth, as evidenced by the recent WineGB Industry Survey (PDF). The WineGB Industry Survey received 155 responses, capturing 91% of wine production in Britain. This comprehensive data provides a clear snapshot of the current state of the industry and its potential for future growth….
