WINEGB Conference 2026
Join industry leaders and experts at the WineGB Conference for a day of insight, discussion and practical strategies centred around this year’s theme of RESILIENCE in the wine industry. Gain valuable knowledge, connect with peers, and leave equipped to strengthen your business for the future.
Key Information
For the first time ever, the WineGB Conference and Awards Ceremony come together in one unmissable day, transitioning from a programme of insight and knowledge into an evening of celebration.
You can register for either event individually or take advantage of our combined package tickets which will give you exclusive early access to the awards tasting tables.
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Date
Thursday 16th July 2026
location
10 Union St, London, SE1 1SZ
timings
Conference 10:00 – 16:00
Conference and Awards Ceremony Package Ticket holders will have exclusive access to the tasting tables from 16:30.
(Awards Ceremony 17:00 – 20:30)
Venue
Located in the London Bridge area, 10 Union Street offers a contemporary and well-connected setting just moments from the River Thames. Positioned near Borough Market’s renowned food scene, it has a modern design flooded with natural daylight. 10 Union Street provides an exceptional backdrop for the 2026 Conference and Awards Ceremony and is fully accessible by lift.
Getting there
10 Union Street is conveniently located in central London. The nearest Underground stations are London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines) and Borough (Northern line), both of which are under a 10-minute walk away, or a short bus ride from Union Street. London Bridge station also provides National Rail services, making it easily accessible from across the UK.
If you’re travelling by car, please note that the venue is within the Congestion Charge Zone, and parking in the area is limited, so public transport is recommended.
Agenda
9:30 – 10:00 Registration
Please take this opportunity to enjoy some tea and coffee, familiarise yourself with the venue, connect with fellow attendees, and get settled in for the day ahead.
10:00 – 11:00 Main Plenary (Part 1)
Nicola Bates, CEO will kick-off the day alongside our new chair, Charlie Holland. You will also hear from Terry Jones, former Director General of NFU Mutual and founder of Chainbridge Associates, a strategic advisory practice which aims to bridge the gap between politics and agri-food.
11:00 – 11:15 Comfort Break
With refreshments.
11:15 – 12:15 Main Plenary (Part 2)
The second plenary session focuses on financial resilience, an increasingly vital factor in the long-term success of wineries and vineyards. Through an expert panel and Q&A, it will explore key areas such as sales, trade relationships, and business planning.
Designed to offer practical, real-world insights, this session will help attendees make informed decisions, strengthen stability, and position their businesses for sustainable growth in a changing market.
Panel speaker information to follow.
12:15 – 13:00 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) formal notice to members will be sent nearer the date, this is not a formal notice.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
A hot lunch will be served.
14:10 – 16:00 Breakout Sessions 1 and 2
Attendees will take part in focused breakout sessions exploring RESILIENCE across three key areas: viticulture, sustainability, and winemaking.
See below for more information.
16:00 Conference Closes
If you have purchased one of our Conference and Awards Package tickets and will be joining us for the Awards Ceremony, we invite you to take some time to relax between events; enjoy a break, get some fresh air, or explore the local area.
Package ticket holders are then welcome to return at 16:30 for exclusive early access to taste the medal-winning wines ahead of the main tasting, which opens to all Awards attendees at 17:00.
For more information about the 2026 Awards Ceremony, please visit the dedicated Awards Ceremony page.
Breakout sessions
These smaller, focused discussions around the wider theme of RESILIENCE provide direct access to industry experts, offering targeted insights and practical approaches to help strengthen and future-proof different areas of your business.
There are three breakout topics available and each attendee will be able to attend two sessions, allowing you to tailor your experience to your interests. For example, you may choose to attend both parts of our Winemaking sessions, or combine sessions across themes such as sustainability and winemaking.
Please note that sessions run concurrently, meaning certain topics (for example, Winemaking Session 1 and Sustainability Session 1) take place at the same time and therefore cannot both be attended.
WINEmaking
Explore the future of winemaking resilience through two expert-led discussion panels focused on remediation strategies for both still and sparkling wine production. Led by winemakers from the WineGB Technical Winemaking Working Group, these sessions will examine practical approaches to overcoming production challenges, improving wine quality, and strengthening long-term resilience across the UK wine industry.
Session 1 – Still Wine
- Case studies in still wine – problem solving and remediation approaches
Session 2 – Sparkling Wine
- Case studies in sparkling wine – problem solving and remediation approaches
Viticulture
Explore the future of resilient viticulture in two expert-led discussion panels with specialists in vine nutrition, agronomy, fertilisation, soil health, and practical vineyard management.
Panel speakers include Rob Poyser and Joel Jorgensen from Vinescapes, with the discussion chaired by Matt Strugnell. These sessions will examine the latest trends, opportunities, and challenges facing UK growers, helping to strengthen vineyard resilience and support long-term sustainability.
Session 1 – Above Ground
- Nutrition, bio-stimulants, PPPs, frost protection, products, emerging pests and, timing vineyard practices and interventions to support resiliant vineyards
Session 2 – Below Ground
- Soil nutrition, soil-borne pests, biodiversity, cover cropping and regenerative approaches and, how to enhance soil resilience in vineyards
Sustainabilty
Sessions designed to help vineyards and wineries respond to evolving environmental, regulatory, and commercial pressures. Bringing together specialists from Knight Frank, Farm Carbon Toolkit, Sustainable Wine Solutions and more. These discussions will examine practical approaches to improving resilience and identifying opportunities for long-term sustainable growth across vineyard operations, packaging, and business strategy.
Session 1 – Policy, Regulation and Opportunity
- Biodiversity Net Gain
- Sustainable Farming Incentive
- Carbon Reporting
- Other Government Grants and Opportunities
Session 2 – Packaging – The Balance of Priorities
- Sustainability Considerations
- Alternative Packaging Options
- Best Practices
- Decision Making
Ticket Prices
We’re offering a range of tiered ticket options so you can tailor your experience exactly how you’d like. Conference and Awards Ceremony tickets can be purchased separately if you only wish to attend one event, or you can choose our special package ticket for full access to both the daytime Conference and evening Awards Ceremony.
Package Tickets
Inlcudes attendance to both the Conference and Awards Ceremony as well as an exclusive extra thirty-minutes access to medal-winning tasting tables.
Early-Bird £159*
Standard Member £179
Standard Non-Member £239
Student £159
Conference Only Tickets
Early-Bird £119*
Standard Member £125
Standard Non-Member £149
Student £99
*Early-Bird tickets are available for WineGB Members only and are limited in number. Please note that a credit or debit card is required to complete the ticket purchase.