Create New Traditions

back british vineyards

Back British Vineyards is a national campaign celebrating the rise of English and Welsh wine, championing the support our vineyards and producers need to keep growing. As more people discover vineyard tours, tastings, stays, and events, we’re Creating New Traditions rooted in community, landscape, and shared experience.

Our mission is simple: Support the vineyards that support rural Britain.

get involved

Buy English & Welsh wine

Email your MP with our templated letter, to back the campaign.

Download this poster and encourage your communities to get involved

Back British Vineyards poster Download

Share your experience using #DrinkEnglishWine and tag @WineGB

why now?

The UK vineyard and winery sector is a growth sector with remarkable acceleration in the past six years. In just six short years we have had our two largest harvests and seen vineyard growth of nearly 70% and sales growth of 200%, with the UK’s domestic wine industry now comprising over 1,100 vineyards and nearly 300 wineries across England and Wales.

+70%

Vineyard Growth

+200%

Sales Growth

1.5Million

Visitors to a Vineyard

Yet despite this growth, the sector remains in its early stages compared to more established global wine regions and requires targeted support to reach its full potential. This is particularly clear when it comes to sales.

In 2023 we delivered 10% growth, however in 2024, sales grew by just 3%, which in part is a reflection of a contracting hospitality sector and suppressed economy.

We need an intervention to help build business resilience.

English and Welsh wine tourism is one of the newest, most exciting hospitality offerings in the UK. Over 1.5 million visitors enjoyed celebrations, tours, tastings, meals and weekend escapes. This growth is transforming rural communities, creating multi skilled jobs, boosting local businesses, and putting Britain on the global wine tourism map.

One of the most impactful and immediate policy measures the government could introduce is duty relief on wine sold directly to consumers and tourists through the cellar door.

So, let’s keep it simple lets level the playing field with foreign wines, keep the momentum going, with a Wine Tourism Relief so vineyards can gain the funds to invest, expand, and welcome even more visitors.

That’s why our Backing British Vineyards campaign calls for a duty relief on wine sales through the cellar door, which would deliver around £6m in savings to UK vineyards to reinvest. The campaign supports:

Rural jobs and year‑round employment

Visitor experiences like tours, tastings, restaurants, and events

Sustainable growth and environmental stewardship

Local economies through hospitality, transport, and retail

New British traditions that bring people together

Empower UK wine producers, especially smaller businesses, to grow, compete, and contribute to the national economy.

From summer picnics among the vines to winter tastings by the fire, vineyards are becoming part of how we celebrate, connect, and explore. These are the new traditions shaping modern Britain, which are rooted in craftsmanship, community, and the beautiful countryside.

When you visit a vineyard, you’re not just enjoying great wine. You’re supporting the people, places, and landscapes that make us unique.