A Busy Year For English Wine Producers – Key Trade Activities Announced

2012 is certainly set to be a busy year for the English wine producers, as the UK gears up for an action packed summer of celebration.

English Wine Producers (EWP), the marketing association of the UK’s leading commercial producers and the marketing arm of the UK wine industry has announced two key activities this year to help the trade work more closely with the industry, get to know vineyards and bring English wines to more customers in time to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee the London Olympics and the British Summer Season.

The Annual English Wine Producers Trade and Press Tasting will take place this year on Thursday May 3rd, at One Great George Street, London SW1 (10.30am-4.30pm). This is the showcase event for the UK wine industry open to trade and press, with the largest line up of English wine on show, from the leading commercial producers to smaller vineyards.

EWP members’ wines will be on prominent display and featuring new wines to new vintages. On show also will be a line up of wines from vineyards from around the UK, represented by the regional vineyard associations. Throughout the day will be the opportunity to meet with representatives and winemakers from many of the vineyards. This will include representatives from some of EWP’s newest member vineyards who although not yet in production represent the changing and growing direction of the UK wine industry – Hattingley Valley Vineyard and Rathfinny Estate.

The industry’s annual celebration and awareness campaign, English Wine Week, takes place this year over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend and just beyond, running from Saturday 2nd – Sunday 10th June.

English Wine Week is a simple concept: vineyards and the trade alike are encouraged to actively promote English wines over the week. Some vineyards hold special events and open days to offering special discounts. For the trade, English Wine Week serves as a great opportunity to highlight any listed English wines to customers, from an instore tasting, to a special themed menu.

“The UK will be in a mood for celebration in June,” comments Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of EWP. “What better way to mark the Diamond Jubilee than with a focus on English wines. The festivities will last well in to the summer and, of course, the London Olympics.

“If you don’t list an English wine, here’s a perfect opportunity capture the mood of the moment – why not link up with a local vineyard or exiting suppliers.”

2012 marks an interesting turning point for the industry, as more sparkling wine is coming on to the market this year, including some new names and labels, as well as increased quantities of established sparkling wine houses and in some cases new additions to their ranges. The UK is gearing up to increased volumes of market ready wine. The industry anticipates that by 2015 volumes will have increased to some 5m bottles, more than double the annual average.

Such new developments hail new changes at EWP, which will be unveiling a new branding, along with new point of sale material to supply the trade. The point of sale material will be unveiled at the trade tasting in May, but expect to see the new branding in the next weeks.

2012 is certainly the year to raise a glass of English wine.