English wine is an industry in ferment. Investment in new and existing vineyards is accelerating, businesses have started changing hands, high-net-worth individuals are sitting on big stakes and its sparkling wines are being exported worldwide.
According to WineGB, the industry association, the number of hectares under vine has more than doubled over the past decade to about 4,000, while the number of wineries has increased by more than 50 per cent to just over 200. The number of vineyards has doubled to about 950.
The industry is also garnering an impressive array of awards to reflect the quality of its products. Chapel Down Group alone collected 28 successes in 2023, being awarded gold medals in the International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine and WineGB awards.
