6 reasons to attend the Vineyard & Winery show 2026
The Vineyard & Winery Show takes place at Kent County Showground, on Wednesday 25th November, and WineGB will once again be curating the seminar series with a line-up focusing on this year’s theme of resilience.
There’s also a chance to drop by our stand to meet and speak with members of the WineGB team and take part in our ‘guess the grape’ game.
A few more of the day’s highlights:
1. TASTE THE BEST OF THE BEST
The third instalment of WineGB’s Golden 50 Wine List will be showcased in the wine hub giving visitors a chance to taste some of the UK’s top gold award-winning wines.
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.
2. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
WineGB’s seminar programme, this year sponsored by SAN AGROW, will run from 9:40am until 1pm in the Astor Pavilion with four sessions focusing on the subject of Resilience.
Session 1: Guest speaker Justin Howard-Sneyd MW
Justin is an international wine consultant, winemaker/owner at Domaine of the Bee and a Trustee of the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation. He will draw on his decades of experience to explore resilience across the sector.
Session 2: Viticultural resilience to climate driven challenges
Moderated by Matt Strugnell WineGB, Viticulture Working Group Chair, this session will look at three key areas of Resilience within the vineyard:
- Vineyard Resilience in a Changing Viticultural Environment – Joel Jorgensen Vinescapes
- Soil Health as the Foundation for Vineyard Resilience – Rob Poyser, Deputy Chair Viticulture Working Group, Vinescapes
- The Smart/Digital Vineyard – David Blake, Vineyard Manager, Viticulture and Wine Lecturer Plumpton College
Session 3: Winemaking adaptation to climate driven challenges
Moderated by Brad Greatrix, WineGB Technical Winemaking Working Group Chair, this discussion will feature three of the UK’s top winemakers:
- Mary Bridges, Head Winemaker Gusbourne
- Josh Donaghay-Spire Head Winemaker Chapel Down
- Emma Rice, Consultant Winemaker
Session 3: WineGB Technology Working Group Update
And for the final session of the day, WineGB Technology Working Group chair and owner of Jo Jo’s Vineyard, Ian Beecher Jones, will give an update on the Working Group.
3.Discover who WILL BE THE NEXT VINTNERS’ COMPANY APPRENTICE
During a mid-way break in the WineGB Seminar programme, Ian Harris MBE, the 531st Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, will present the Vintners’ Company Apprentice Award to this year’s recipient.
Sponsored by the Vintner’s Company in collaboration with WineGB, this annual award seeks to encourage aspiring individuals to further their career in the UK wine industry with the winner being awarded a bursary of up to £3000.
Pictured: Last year’s winner, Adrian Crookendale from Saffron Grange Vineyard
4 Meet 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.
Do pop along to Stand 16 in the John Hendry Pavilion where the following team members will be on hand throughout the day to chat:
- Head of Partnerships, Neil Walker
- Head of Communications & Marketing, Kirsty Rushby
- Knowledge Manager, Gillian Jordan (PM only)
- Events & Export Manager, Angelina Howe
- Events Apprentice, Kez Shears
- Sustainability Ambassador, Anne Jones
- Membership enquires, Sophie Wright
Don’t forget to take part in our Guess the Grape blind tasting challenge.
5. Join a masterclass with Tom Surgey & Henry Jeffreys
Join wine experts and new Vineyard Magazine columnists Tom Surgey and Henry Jeffreys for this year’s Vineyard & Winery Show masterclass, held in tribute to wine writer and former host, Matthew Jukes.
Discover six of their favourite wines and discover which has won the inaugural Matthew Jukes Trophy for Vineyard magazine Wine of The Year. Henry will be sharing his thoughts on three Ortegas, while Tom will be introducing three of the UK’s more innovative and unconventional wines.
Tickets for the masterclass are £30 per person with proceeds from sales donated to the Drinks Trust, continuing Matthew’s tradition of supporting the charity.
6. IT’s FREE
The show, which brings together over 100 exhibitors and expects more than 2,000 visitors from across the industry, is completely free for members of the UK wine industry trade and media to attend.
That’s a whole lot of networking opportunities with key players in the industry.