18th May 2007

Bumper Crop for UK wine producers

The 2006 production figures for English and Welsh wines have just been declared, showing that the UK produced one of their highest volumes on record.

3,369,000 million bottles will be produced from the 2006 harvest, the third highest volume since production records began.  The data also records an increase in the number of hectares under vine from the previous year - from 793ha to 923ha, and an increase from 350 to 362 vineyards over the same period. 

The harvest and production data is supplied by the Wine Standards Branch of the Food Standards Agency (formerly the Wine Standards Board) who are responsible for collecting the information from all registered vineyards in England and Wales.

“This is excellent news,” comments Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Manager of English Wine Producers. “Demand for English wines has been definitely increasing as more and more consumers become aware of English wines and the variety and styles they offer, and this is backed up by sales, rising year on year.”

“The trade is increasingly supportive, with English Wine Week this year seeing more of both the on and off trade participate than ever before.”

The English & Welsh wine industry is experiencing a steady increase in planting of vineyards, primarily for sparkling wine production.  Since 2004 vineyard acreage has increased by approximately a third, which will yield an increase in production by a further 58%.

As the industry approaches English Wine Week (26th May – 3rd June) there is certainly plenty to celebrate.