WineGB

To mark World Mental Health Day, we’ve released a free safeguarding toolkit to protect the health, well-being, and rights of workers in the UK wine industry and wider alcohol sector. This one-stop-shop for safeguarding information, support, and processes is also accompanied by a separate guide on ‘what to do if you have been assaulted or experienced a safeguarding offence.’ This launch was inspired by two important events: 🔺On 26 October, a law change will mean that businesses will have a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. 🔺Last year, a survey from Curious Vines and Proof Insight stated that one in three women working in the industry have faced harassment while working, the figure reducing to one in every two for 18 to 34-year-olds. We are committed to helping not just our industry but the wider alcohol sector to create an inclusive and equitable environment for all workers. Find our free toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/emzimZmP Queena Wong Anjali Douglas Women in Wine LDN Emma Rix Paris Smith LLP

It’s less than 4 weeks until the Budget announcement ⏳ 📣 We’re calling on the Government to provide improved grant funding to help our sector achieve its goals. This includes: 📣 Making the Future Winemakers’ Scheme a permanent, annual funding stream to help support the next generation of talent as the industry grows and matures. 📣 Ensuring funding offered within the Defra kit and equipment fund includes viticulture-specific equipment so our sector has the same opportunities for support as other types of agriculture. Equally, enhancing funding to assist in the expansion of winery infrastructure, helping to reduce high establishment and expansion costs faced by our producers. 📣 Instigating support for an industry research and development programme, specifically tailored to developing measures to address the challenges brought about by climate change. 📸 2 Plumpton College 📸 3 Balfour Winery 📸 4 NIAB

Happy World Tourism Day 🌍 Here’s why tourism matters to the GB wine industry… ⭐️ There are now 300 vineyards and wineries involved in wine tourism in the UK. On average, it accounts for a quarter of their total income. ⭐️ Top tourism activities include cellar doors and shops, tours and tastings, venue hire, accommodation, restaurants and cafés, and picnic areas. From winery slides and yoga in the vines to half marathons and biking tours, there’s something for everyone. ⭐️ 1.5 million visits were made to UK vineyards and wineries last year, up 55% on numbers achieved in 2022. ⭐️ Investment is growing. 60% of respondents to our Industry Survey said they planned to invest in wine tourism in the next year. A prime example is Domaine Evremond (pictured) - this week HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO opened its new winery and visitor centre in Chilham, Kent. 1 📸 Albury Organic Vineyard 2 📸 Denbies Wine Estate Limited 3 📸 All Angels Vineyard 4 📸 Tinwood Estate 5 📸 Domaine Evremond Hatch Mansfield

As vineyards across the UK begin harvest 2024, here’s a round-up of the top regional performers at this year’s WineGB Awards, with trophies sponsored by RIEDEL - The Wine Glass Company 🏆 SOUTH EAST Chapel Down Group Kit’s Coty Coeur de Cuvée 2016 🏆 WESSEX Langham Wine Estate Pinot Noir 2019 🏆 WALES Vale Vineyard Debut Sparkling White Wine 2021 🏆 WEST Woodchester Valley Vineyard Blanc de Blancs 2018 🏆 EAST Hawkswood Vineyard Pinot Rosé 2023 🏆 MIDLANDS & NORTH Dunesforde Vineyard Still Pinot Gris 2022 🏆 THAMES & CHILTERNS Winding Wood Vineyard Brut Rosé 2020 Visit the WineGB website to find the full list of trophy and medal winners and toast the start of harvest 🥂

📣 We’re calling on the Government to reform duty and create a fairer business environment for GB wine producers. We want: 📣 A fairer tax regime for British wine including a duty cut. The UK is one of the very few wine-producing countries in Europe that levies excise duty on home-grown and produced products. This is the reality of what our producers face when competing domestically and internationally. Reducing duty would help stimulate sales and increase Treasury income. 📣 Extension of Small Producer Relief (SPR). Wine is currently excluded from SPR. Only products with 8.5% ABV and below qualify, yet the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), of which the UK government is a member, states that wine cannot be made under 8.5% and still be called wine. Alcohol category specific thresholds for SPR would enable domestic producers to take advantage of this support. 📣 Support for wine tourism in the form of Cellar Door Relief. 25% of income comes from wine tourism in the UK and there are 300 businesses actively involved in this industry. Let’s learn from the Australians and create Cellar Door Relief to build on the 1.5 million visits made to vineyards last year.

WineGB Strategy Day 2024 ✅ We held our first strategy day today at Denbies Wine Estate Limited to facilitate the development of our three-year work programme. We will launch this programme on 20 November at The Vineyard & Winery Show. Our extensive consultation received: ⭐️ 160 comments from members of all sizes and from across the country ⭐️ Detailed responses which provided depth and context when assessing our challenges ⭐️ Input from 30 leaders across our sector including our Regional Association Chairs, specialist Working Groups, and the WineGB Board and Executive Team. Today, we confirmed our vision and mission, identified our industry’s main challenges, and agreed what we should prioritise. A big thank you to everyone that contributed.

Last week at our Trade and Press Tasting, we shone a spotlight on sustainability in the Marks and Spencer Green Room. With birdsong playing, a magnificent floral display, and GB wine cork decorations, the M&S Green Room provided the perfect backdrop for guests to taste a range of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) certified wines and others beginning their journey, including those available in M&S stores and online on Ocado. In collaboration with Marks and Spencer, we also held a panel discussion on the value of sustainability certifications. We revealed that Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) is one of 29 approved environmental sustainability certifications recognised by Swedish alcohol monopoly Systembolaget. The panel session covered: > Market penetration of sustainability certifications > Providing a balance between sustainability and good value on wine lists > Consumer trust: the responsibility of retailers and restaurants to assess the sustainability of wines they list > How to tell the story of sustainability > De-carbonising glass and the options available > Alternative packaging and its consumer appeal Sue Daniels from Marks and Spencer said that with the absence of legacy regulation and the story of local production, the UK is uniquely placed to control its own destiny in terms of sustainability. Patrick Schmitt MW from The Drinks Business stated that 60% of all wine sold through fine wine auctioneer iDealwine has a sustainability certification. Ruth Simpson from Simpsons Wine Estate discussed the importance of good communication and storytelling, revealing that Simpsons’ enlists the help of elephants at a nearby zoo to provide manure to kick-start the grape marc compost heap. Luke Harbor from THE PIG Hotel | B Corp said it’s important to ensure all wines listed have sustainability credentials that are appropriate for the region, grape variety, wine style, and price point. Photos by Tom Gold

✉️ This week we sent in our second Budget submission of the year and have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Rachel Reeves We have called for: DUTY ✅ A fairer tax regime for British wine including a duty reduction / freeze. ✅ Support for wine tourism in the form of Cellar Door Relief, supporting 300 businesses to grow their tourism offerings. ✅ Small Producer Relief to level the playing field and ensure English and Welsh wine producers can access this support. FUNDING ✅ Backing for education by making the Future Winemakers fund a permanent, annual funding stream. ✅ Enhanced grants for both vineyard and winery related equipment. ✅ Cellar door support by enhancing local infrastructure to facilitate travel and communication. ✅ Further aid for wine-specific research to help us face challenges brought about by climate change. GLOBAL ✅ Export support and partnerships to increase market penetration overseas. ✅ Restoration of tax-free shopping for international visitors to the UK. ✅ Introduction of arrivals duty-free at UK ports and airports to provide travel incentives.

A warm welcome to the newest members of WineGB! We look forward to following your journey ⭐️ BROADFIELD COURT LLP Campden BRI Winbirri Vineyards Ben Walgate Wildshark Vineyard Woodchurch Wine Estate Hencote; The Vineyard Venue Cloud Wine Thirsty Birds Wine Recruitment South East Ltd Southwick Estate BARN OWL (VENUSTA) LIMITED Vyn Dene 📸 Tom Gold Rathfinny Wine Estate Steven Haywood

What a day! At our Trade and Press Tasting yesterday, we had: ⭐️ 80 producers ⭐️ 350+ wines ⭐️ 600+ visitors ⭐️ Plus a press briefing and sustainability panel discussion in collaboration with Marks and Spencer A huge thank you to everyone that made our Trade and Press Tasting possible, to the producers, visitors, panellists and the WineGB team. 2025, here we come!