WineGB to focus on tourism and retail this year

WineGB will be focusing on wine tourism and the retail sector this year, alongside a focus on the themes of sustainability and innovation.

Activities kick off with a virtual three-day wine tourism conference next month, which will take place from 10am until 12pm on 2-4 March.

English Wine Week is moving to June this year and will take place from 19-29 June to coincide with the midsummer solstice.

With record sales of English wines in the last year, English Wine Week gives WineGB the chance to team up with retailers to spread the drink local message.

A separate Welsh Wine Week is scheduled to take place from 4-13 June. More information about how WineGB will be proposing to work with retailers will be released shortly.

Meanwhile, the annual WineGB trade tasting is due to take place on 7 September and promises to be the key showcase event for GB wines and new releases.

A number of dedicated social campaigns will also be rolled out over the year. To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, WineGB is teaming with Women in Wine London to run a series of Instagram Live interviews from 8-15 March featuring women from across the English and Welsh wine industry.

“While last year was incredibly challenging for many of our members, the rise in retail and direct to consumer sales demonstrated that consumers are more clearly focussed on provenance, sustainability and buying from local producers – all of which our industry is proud to provide,” said WineGB’s marketing manager, “Julia Trustram Eve.

“Above all we want to set out a calendar of events and projects that focus on key consumer drivers and allows them and the trade to engage with this wonderful industry of ours, which is going through remarkable growth and bursting with confidence,” she added.