English wines break sales records

English wines are breaking new sales records due to “dramatically improved quality”, says Berry Bros. & Rudd.

The wine merchant recorded a sales increase of 50% by value and 25% by volume during this year compared to 2010, and a doubling of sales by value since 2006.

“English winemakers are creating far higher quality wines, which has meant that retailers can put more English wine on their shelves and that consumers have a better and wider choice of wines available – and with stronger sales, there is more for makers to invest,” said Simon Field MW, English wines buyer at Berry Bros. & Rudd.

The merchant, with outlets in London, Basingstoke and Hong Kong, said English wine sales have risen on the back of dramatically improved quality, and pointed out that Berry’s now stock 18 different English wines from seven different producers.

Looking ahead, Field added, “The trick for English winemakers over the coming years, however, will be to make their wines a bit more attainable when it comes to pricing.

“That should result from higher volumes and stronger sales, but the truth remains that, while they compare favourably with wines from across the world, English wines remain a premium product and, if they are to break into mainstream and gain a bigger following, producers will need to find ways of bringing prices at the checkout down,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, our upcoming Trends Report has picked out English Wines as a key growth area for 2012, driven not just by the improvement in quality but also by a marked increase in supply, with a 40% growth in plantings in the last five years.