5 ways to make the most of the Vineyard show 2025
This year’s show is on 19th November and WineGB will be there again. We have curated the seminar series on the theme of innovation, with a line up focusing on the cutting edge of viticulture and wine making. On our stand we will hold meet and great sessions with the team, as well as the chance to win big by guessing the grape.
With over 100 exhibitors vying for the attention of 2,000 guests, we pick out some highlights and ways to get the best from the day.
1. Sample the Golden 50 wine list
The wine hub in the Maidstone Hall at this year’s Vineyard & Winery Show will go well beyond merely giving visitors a chance to taste great English wines. The offerings this year are simply the best-of-the-best – gold medal winners of the very highest calibre. The show guide includes the full list with space for tasting notes, but you can get ahead of the game by searching the full Golden 50 Wine List here before you go.
“This has been another incredible year for wines from the UK and it is so important for us to recognise the wonderful achievements of these award-winners. We had so many outstanding wines to consider in 2025, it is an incredibly hard task to select just the best 50.
“We have seen our first 99 point wine, and with another global trophy from the International Wine Challenge, it is very clear that quality is continually increasing. We are seeing more and more interest in our sector, especially from overseas markets which demonstrates how this message is getting through.”
Nicola Bates, WineGB CEO
2. Attend a seminar
Hear the story behind WineGB’s top scoring wine when Langham’s head winemaker Tommy Grimshaw delivers his presentation at the first of a programme of seminars hosted by WineGB on the theme ‘Innovation’. Other seminars will cover regenerative viticulture, smarter forecasting, communication and management of frost risks in vineyards and the launch of Wine GB’s technology group.
10:00: Introduction from WineGB’s Deputy Chair, Ruth Simpson
10:10: Tommy Grimshaw – Innovation- past, present, future from an emerging talent/young wine makers personal perspective.
10.40: Smarter Forecasting, Communication and Management of Frost Risks in Vineyards with UKRI Project Team, moderated by Steve Dorling of Weather Quest.
11.45: The New Face of Regenerative Viticulture moderated by Anne Jones WineGB Sustainability Ambassador and the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation.
12.25: New WineGB Technology Group introduction led by Ian Beecher-Jones, Jo Jo’s Vineyard.
12:50: Remarks and close from WineGB’s CEO Nicola Bates
3. chat to the WineGB team
The WineGB team will be out in force at the show and are happy to answer questions on a variety of sector subjects. A programme of drop-in sessions at the stand will run as follows:
- 13:00: Eco-chat with Sustainability & Creative Executive Emma Rix.
- 14:00: A chance to speak all things WineGB with CEO Nicola Bates.
- 15:00: Knowledge Manager Gillian Jordan answers your questions on Education & Compliance.
- 16:00: Want to talk about what events WineGB has lined up in 2016? Events & Export Manager Angelina Howe is on hand.
4. Check out WineGB’s new website
While you’re in the Wine Hub, why not take the opportunity to take a deep dive into WineGB’s new website? There will be a full interactive display enabling visitors to explore the fresh new look, improved functionality, member benefits and new vineyard map that helps consumers plan vineyard visits and find UK wine.
Not signed up for your ticket yet? Entry is free.
5. Network, network, network
As well as meeting with suppliers of the services that are supporting the UK wine industry, the Vineyard and Winery Show is a brilliant place to network with key players. The UK vine and wine community might be small but it is fast growing; as it continues its impressive upward trajectory, the show is set to include over 100 exhibitors and expects more than 2,000 visitors from across the industry.