The 2026 WineGB Conference in numbers: An industry united by resilience

More than 200 vineyard owners, winemakers, suppliers, trade professionals and members of the wine media gathered at 10 Union street in London on Thursday, July 16, for the 2026 WineGB Conference, sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter and centred on the defining theme of Resilience.

A day of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and practical discussion, the event demonstrated that the English and Welsh wine industry isn’t standing still.

One Industry-wide campaign launch

Opening the conference WineGB CEO Nicola Bates introduced WineGB’s newly appointed Chair, Charlie Holland, who introduced the new Back British Vineyards campaign.

Alongside the association’s continued call for Wine Tourism Relief, the campaign shines a spotlight on the contribution vineyards and wineries make to rural economies while encouraging greater support for one of Britain’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors.

With vineyard plantings, tourism and international recognition all increasing, the campaign represents an important step in ensuring the industry’s long-term prosperity

22 expert speakers

Keynote speaker, former NFU Director General Terry Jones reminded delegates that, while the political landscape may be challenging, the industry’s greatest strength lies in speaking with one voice.

With thousands of competing voices seeking policymakers’ attention, he argued that authenticity, evidence and collective action are what truly make the difference. His advice to delegates was simple: be solutions-focused, be patient and be authentic.

“Political timetables are short, political lifespans are even shorter and it’s a difficult environment to lobby in. To get your point across is harder and it’s no longer about who you know, it’s about what you know and data, data, data.”

Alan Mahon, founder of B-Corp Brewgooder, was next to the stage and spoke more on the  topic of authenticity and human connection.

“Wine has something most categories would kill for – it sits at the centre of long‑form conversation and real human connection…and that first conversation starts here, in this room.

“Authentic industry collaboration is what unlocks the wider cultural conversation with consumers. Without it, we talk past each other. With it, we build something bigger than any single brand – a shared story with genuine purpose behind it.”

Alan then joined WineGB’s Head of Partnerships Neil Walker for a panel discussion on resilience alongside  Helen Brocklebank, CEO Walpole; Douglas Jackson, from NFU Mutual, Ed Mansel Lewis, Head of Viticulture at Knight Frank and Angela Clay, Head of Corporate Partnerships at new WineGB charity partner The Drinks Trust

Collectively they spoke about believing in your workforce, adapting to survive through versatility, building relationships instead of just transactions, and a continuity plan to remove risks and build better resilience.

Four breakout sessions, countless practical takeaways

In the afternoon, four specialist breakout streams enabled delegates to tailor the day to their own businesses.

The Sustainability sessions demonstrated how environmental responsibility has become integral to business resilience. Led by Wine Sustainability Consultant, Anne Jones and with presentations from Josh Donaghay-Spire, Operations Director and winemaker at Chapel Down; Mark Topliff, Rural Consultancy Associate at Knight Frank; Henry Sugden – founder and CEO of Defined Wine and Brendan Paine from Royston Labels.

Discussions ranged from Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon reporting to Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes and the evolving debate around packaging. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, the speakers encouraged vineyards and wineries to make informed, evidence-based decisions that balance environmental impact with commercial realities.

The Viticulture sessions – with speakers  Chair of the WineGB Viticulture Working Group, Matt Strugnall and Rob Poyser and Joel Jorgensen from Vinescapes – focused on building resilience both above and below ground. Above ground, discussion centred on vine nutrition, biostimulants, frost protection, emerging pests and the importance of timely vineyard interventions. Speakers noted, resilience isn’t simply about responding to challenges when they arise, but anticipating them before they become problems.

Beneath the surface, attention turned to soil health. Cover crops, biodiversity, regenerative practices and long-term soil management all featured heavily, reinforcing the message that healthy vineyards start with healthy soils. Looking after what lies beneath the vines, delegates heard, is every bit as important as managing the canopy above it.

Meanwhile, the Winemaking sessions brought together members of the WineGB Technical Winemaking Working Group inlcluding Brad Greatrix (Nyetimber), Emma Rice (Emma Rice Wines), Josh Donaghay-Spire (Chapel Down) and Nick Blampied-Lane (Defined Wine) to discuss real-world case studies and remediation strategies for both still and sparkling wine production. By openly sharing challenges, solutions and technical expertise, the sessions reinforced one of the industry’s greatest strengths: its willingness to collaborate in order to raise standards across the sector.

For producers looking further afield, the Export breakout sessions explored the growing international appetite for English and Welsh wine and how the UK wine industry can capitalise on demand. Delegates heard practical advice from Hattingley Valley’s Sales & Marketing Directory Chris Unger and Silvia Cackova, Export Manager at Simpsons Wine Estate on identifying overseas opportunities, accessing export support programmes and understanding how premium UK wines are increasingly being recognised in global markets.

Networking over 96 English & Welsh wines

Of course, no WineGB Conference would be complete without the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new members and, for the first time, as the WineGB Awards followed on from the conference, the chance to try 96 different silver and gold-medal-winning wines, showcasing the outstanding quality and true resilience of the UK wine industry.