English and Welsh still wine sales outpace sparkling as UK wine industry posts strong growth

Sales of English and Welsh still wines are growing faster than sparkling wines, according to new data released by the wine team at the Food Standards Agency. Across all wine categories in the United Kingdom, sales volumes increased by 3% compared to 2023. Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB, described this growth as significant, especially given the current economic challenges, recent regulatory changes, and ongoing barriers that UK producers face compared to more established wine markets.

Still wine sales reached 2.9 million bottles last year, marking a 10% rise from the previous year. This growth outpaced sparkling wine sales, although still wines started from a smaller base. Sparkling wine sales remained steady at 6.2 million bottles, matching the previous year’s figure. This stability is notable as Champagne sales declined during the same period.

Exports of UK wine also saw a strong increase, with volumes up 35% year on year. Exported wines now represent 9% of total sales. The export growth comes after a record harvest in 2023 that produced the equivalent of 21.6 million bottles. However, last year’s production dropped to just under 10.7 million bottles due to crop losses caused by persistent wet weather and related vineyard diseases. Despite this setback, last year’s yield was still the fourth highest in the past decade, supported by ongoing expansion in vineyard plantings.

The UK now cultivates 99 different grape varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Albariño, Merlot and Riesling. The six most-planted varieties remain unchanged: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier—classic Champagne grapes—lead plantings, followed by Bacchus, Seyval Blanc and Solaris.

The industry continues to expand its infrastructure. Last year saw the establishment of 25 new wineries and 74 new vineyards, bringing the totals to 238 wineries and 1,104 vineyards across England and Wales. The total area under vine has grown to 4,841 hectares—a rise of 510% since 2005.

Kent remains the leading county for vineyard plantings, followed by West Sussex. Recent developments in Essex have pushed it into third place for land under vine, ahead of East Sussex and Hampshire.

As production grows, so does the need for skilled workers. The latest WineGB Industry Survey indicates that full-time employment in the sector is expected to increase by 21% over the next three years. Nicola Bates emphasized that the industry continues to show resilience and remains in a phase of growth, with both planting and employment on an upward trajectory.