It’s Time We Took British Wine Seriously

When people talk about the growing chapters of our national story, they often point to green energy, technology, or Britain’s evolving role on the world stage after Brexit. All of these are important, but there is another story that deserves attention: UK wine. Once seen as a curiosity, today it is a symbol of innovation, ambition, and rural enterprise. It’s a story of British ingenuity bottled and corked, ready to be celebrated.

The UK wine industry is now a dynamic and growing part of our rural economy and food and drink culture. In just a generation, it’s moved from the margins to serious contender status, and its achievements reflect more than just bottles on a shelf; they tell us something about the Britain we’re becoming. Chapel Down’s Kit’s Coty Bacchus, recently crowned Best Bacchus at the WineGB Awards, is a perfect example. It is not just a single win for one vineyard; it is a coming-of-age moment for the entire UK wine sector.

Wine tourism, too, has become part of the rhythm of British summers, pairing tastings with walks, local produce, and the kind of calm that feels increasingly rare. Beyond our borders, British wine is carving out a clear identity in international markets such as Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Denmark, gaining recognition as a premium, cool-climate product. The 2025 harvest, described by growers as “a vintage of outstanding quality,” shows that even within our temperate climate, British vineyards are now capable of producing wine of real quality and scale through expertise, innovation, and careful vineyard management.

You may be wondering why I’m even discussing all of this in the first place. The truth is, as a born and bred resident of Kent, the Garden of England, I see the potential of this industry up close. Visiting vineyards across my constituency has made it clear that the UK wine industry is no longer a small niche. Industry data shows demand for UK wine is rising both nationally and internationally, with sales of domestic wine increasing by 10% in 2023 to 8.8 million bottles, and sparkling wine sales up 187% since 2018. This might sound technical, but the data makes it clear. The UK wine sector is growing, and we need to celebrate its growing economic and cultural importance.

If we want this momentum to continue, then Government has a role to play. I am proud to be the Vice Chair of the Wine of Great Britain APPG. Through work done in the APPG, I believe there are three areas where targeted action could make a genuine difference:

•     Support for wine tourism: Targeted, capped duty relief on cellar-door sales would strengthen rural economies, create jobs, and help vineyards grow sustainably without distorting the market.
•     Protect the meaning of British wine: Clear labelling, 100% British grapes, strong ABV standards, and safeguards for domestic sparkling producers are essential to consumer trust and international credibility.
•     Reinvest in growth: Modest state support for equipment, skills, R&D and promotion would level the playing field with global competitors and unlock long-term value in a high-quality rural industry.

As a Member of Parliament, I want to see the success of this sector. Not only because it benefits my wonderful constituency of Chatham and Aylesford but because I know it would benefit constituencies up and down the country by opening opportunity to rural economies and the national hospitality landscape which we so value as Brits.

Supporting kit, education, R&D and promotion is essential. No new wine region has succeeded internationally without state backing, and if we want English wine on shelves in Tokyo, New York and Copenhagen, Government must be a partner. This vision benefits communities, industry and the nation alike and I hope the Government will seize that opportunity with confidence and ambition, to help the sector truly flourish.