Bubbles and bottles: The UK's wine industry is booming. Photo: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com.
In 2023, English and Welsh wine producers set a new record by selling 8.8 million bottles, up 10 per cent on the previous year.
To meet the growing demand, the industry is growing rapidly, with 87 new vineyards registered last year.
According to the Food Standards Agency's wine team, the UK now has a total of 1,030 vineyards.
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Important achievement
“Reaching over 1,000 vineyards is a significant milestone for our industry,” said Nicola, CEO of WineGB.
“We are expanding sustainably and achieving a 10% increase in sales is impressive, especially given the general decline in wine consumption in the UK. As consumer confidence in the economy grows, more people will discover our wines in pubs, bars and restaurants.”
The UK now has 4,209 hectares of vineyards, a 123 per cent increase over the past decade.
The number of wineries in the UK also rose to 221.
77% increase
In 2023, production reached 161,960.84 hectoliters, equivalent to 21.6 million bottles, an increase of 77 percent compared to 2022.
WineGB data shows that 76 percent of wine produced in 2023 will be sparkling, 23 percent will be still, and 1 percent will be used to make vermouth and other drinks.
Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape, accounting for 32 percent of total vineyard area, followed by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Bacchus trees account for 8% of UK plantings, while Seyfal Blanc and Solaris trees each account for 3%.
Other hybrid varieties include Rondo and Regent.
sparkling wine
Sparkling wine sales have increased by 187 percent since 2018, from 2.2 million bottles to 6.2 million bottles in 2023.
Meanwhile, sales of still wine rose 117 percent to 2.6 million bottles over the same five-year period.
“The UK wine industry has seen significant growth and development over the past decade due to huge investment. The expansion of vineyards and wineries is expected to continue rapidly,” said Bates.
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