By 2032, the UK wine industry is expected to produce almost 25 million bottles per year, according to the latest report by WineGB.
If you would have told me in 1999, when I moved to the UK from the US, that in under a quarter of a century the UK would transform itself from a viticultural backwater to a flourishing market for homegrown wines, I simply would not have believed you.
It’s now hard to find a supermarket or a decent wine list that doesn’t play host to at least one of the UK’s excellent sparkling or white wines. Driven by brand new equipment and innovative production methods, English sparkling and white wines stand above many of their foreign competitors – with the impressive team at Nyetimber being the first non-Champagne producers to win the prestigious Sparkling Winemaker Of The Year award in 2018.
In fact, I would suggest that UK winemakers are at a unique advantage compared to those in more established markets. Unfettered by convention and habit, the UK’s vineyards are free to explore new technologies and innovate. For example, at Ewelme Hills, the vineyard and farm I chair, we pursue a vision for sustainable viticulture, a trend I am pleased to say is growing across UK viticulture. We use locally sourced organic fertiliser supplemented by manure from our stables, we’re promoting the growth of wild flowers and herbs to boost biodiversity, and we will only ever use organic pesticides on our vines.
The growth and diversification of the UK wine industry is also playing a crucial role in creating employment opportunities and driving investment into the nation’s rural communities. In the 2022-23 season, 10,600 people were directly employed by the UK’s wine industry, either full time or through part time and seasonal work, and the number of full-time roles is expected to increase by half by 2025.
We must also not forget about the magnetic role vineyards play in attracting tourists. Over the past year, wine tourism accounted for almost a quarter of the total revenue of British vineyards, providing a halo effect to local businesses and hospitality venues.
It’s safe to say that the future of the British wine industry is bright, as ambitious wine makers change the game, not only on a national level but internationally. It’s my personal ambition to produce an English Pinot Noir that can compete against the very best of those being made in Oregon.
If we continue to support the flourishing British wine industry – by supporting our producers and investing back into British business – the sky is very much the limit.