PRESS RELEASE

17th March 2006

ENGLISH WINE PRODUCERS STEPPING UP ACTIVITY

English wine activity is increasing year on year.  English Wine Producers, the marketing arm of the English wine industry, will this year be staging two trade tastings – in London on Friday 21st April (to mark St George’s Day on 23rd) at One Great George Street, SW1, and for the first time ever in Manchester, on Thursday 14th September.  “Due to the consistently increasing demand for access to English wines, and a growing market further north, we are staging two trade tastings this year,” comments Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of English Wine Producers.

The forthcoming London tasting will see members of English Wine Producers out in force showing their latest range of wines and launching some new releases in anticipation for the summer drinking season.   This will include wines from two of EWP’s newest members, A’Beckett’s Vineyard near Devizes and Brightwell Vineyard from Oxfordshire.  Also on show will be wines from the smaller vineyards, represented by their regional vineyard associations.  All the wines will be either Quality or Regional wines (the UK’s quality appellation) or national/international competition award winners.

The London tasting will provide the platform to launch this year’s English Wine Week, which takes place Saturday 27th May – Sunday 4th June.   English Wine Week is the industry’s national campaign to promote English vineyards and wines, and is sponsored by Food From Britain, the market development consultancy for British food and drink producers.  During English Wine Week, vineyards across the country will be staging special events and tastings, and working with other outlets to highlight and promote English wines.  “English Wine Week is an excellent way to make a special feature of English wines and to develop and increase sales,” remarks Julia.  “This year we are really encouraging the on and off trade to take part.  So many more outlets now stock English wine which many of their customers may be unaware of – and here is an ideal opportunity to do their bit of flag waving and sell more.”   It is not too late to get involved in English Wine Week. 

English wines continue to enjoy a consistent increase in interest and sales.   “We are at the stage where sales are very healthy,” adds Julia.  “Sales have been rising year on year by a conservative figure of 20%.  More and more people are keen to buy English wines and do so.  We work very closely with regional food and drink bodies, which have also been experiencing a high rise in sales and awareness in sourcing and buying locally/regionally.  In working with outlets and particularly over a busy campaign such as English Wine Week, we can introduce more people to the delights of English wine and the pleasure of visiting a vineyard on the doorstep.”

If you are interested in participating in English Wine Week please contact English Wine Producers on tel: 01536 772264, email: info@englishwineproducers.com or visit www.englishwineproducers.com for an information pack.

To receive an invitation to the EWP trade and press tastings, please contact English Wine Producers.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

- English Wine Producers is the marketing arm of the UK wine industry, fulfilling a dual role to promote its members and the industry as a whole.  Its members represent collectively the majority wine produced in the UK and number the leading and more commercial producers.

Information on all EWP’s activities will be available in more detail on their website www.englishwineproducers.com .  A copy of the EWP trade tasting sheet will be available to view on the website nearer the tasting on www.englishwineproducers.com/trade.

Food from Britain is the market development consultancy for British food and drink producers, has been commissioned by Defra to develop and implement a programme of support for the British regional food and drink sector. It is being delivered in association with a network of regional food and drink groups, and encompasses trade development, consumer awareness and increasing producer competitiveness.

For more information visit www.foodfrombritain.com or contact Kirsty Grieve, Regional Food and Drink Manager on 020 7468 8570.  Visit www.regionalfoodanddrink.co.uk to source quality British regional food and drink.