Reasons not to miss the themed tasting tables at this year’s WineGB National Trade & Press Tasting
These popular areas of the tasting provide a valuable opportunity for buyers, sommeliers, journalists and other trade visitors to compare wines side-by-side.
The 2026 WineGB National Trade & Press Tasting at Old Billingsgate on Monday, 7th September, promises to be bigger and better than ever.
As well as the hundreds of bottles that will be presented on individual exhibitor and regional tables, showcasing the breadth and diversity of the English & Welsh wine industry, don’t miss this year’s four themed tables:
WineGB Awards 2026 Trophy Table
Get the chance to taste all the 2026 Trophy-winning wines including a 99-point scorer – only the second wine ever to achieve this accolade in the awards’ 10-year history.
PIWIs – the sustainable solution to the UK’s challenging climate
As sustainability and climate resilience become increasingly important considerations for growers around the world, disease-resistant grape varieties are a hot topic right now. This dedicated PIWI table will explore those being grown in the UK and their potential environmental and qualitative benefits.
Chardonnay – a celebration of the UK’s most widely planted grape
Think you know Chardonnay? But do you know English Chardonnay? Chardonnay is now the UK’s most planted grape variety, and while it remains the backbone of English and Welsh sparkling wine, a new generation of still Chardonnays is showing just how well the variety can perform here. If your wine list usually takes you to Chablis, Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet, take a UK detour – you might just find a new Chardonnay worth talking about
Cellar Door by Price
This is a practical way for the trade to explore English and Welsh wines across different cellar-door and retail website price points to discover wines for a range of occasions.
- Still wines: £25 and under
- Still wines: £26–£40
- Sparkling wines: £30 and under
- Sparkling wines: £31–£45
Why are these themed tasting tables so valuable?
Side-by-side comparison
Visitors can taste wines made from the same grape or within the same category, comparing different producers and regional styles.
Target sourcing
Sommeliers and buyers can head straight to categories that are relevant to their current portfolio gaps and purchasing needs.
Streamlined tasting notes: Visitors can write structured, cohesive review notes when focusing on one specific category at a time
Signposting: We know from past events that attendees will seek out the themed tasting tables as a conversation starter for when they visit your stand
Not yet registered to attend the 2026 WineGB National Trade & Press Tasting?