UK hectarage production up

The official wine production figures for the UK reveal that hectarage in production is now the highest ever recorded, showing a rise of over 60% in just 5 years.

Production data is collected after harvest by the Wine Standards Branch (Food Standards Agency) and submitted in spring the following year. Their figures show that 2011 production exceeded 3 million bottles (3.02m).

This production figure is down from 2010, which saw a record-breaking harvest. 2011 will be remembered as a challenging year for volume; however right across the country vineyards reported that the quality of the fruit was superb.

There is a continued rise in the number of vineyards and hectarage planted, with 419 vineyards from 404 recorded in 2010 and hectarage now 1,384 – a growth of 4.5% over the previous year.

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Bacchus are showing an ongoing rise in planting, with Chardonnay showing the highest increase. This reflects the continued growth of the sparkling wine sector, particularly in Southern England.

As if proof of English wine’s continued rise English Wine Producers (EWP) has relaunched its branding and logo, showing a newer, cleaner look. The design reflects the freshness of the English landscape, with crisp, elegant lines to represent a modern industry, with a nod to England through the splash of red of a rose.

The logo resembles a seal of quality, indicative of the fact that EWP members are the trail blazers of the industry – membership includes the largest and leading producers with the collective message of quality and consistency in their wines.

“EWP’s role is to support its members and the logo reflects this,” comments Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of English Wine Producers. “We’ve gone for understated elegance – just like the wines we work with.”