UK wine industry thriving
Vineyard numbers in England and Wales have jumped to 1,104, with 25 new wineries registered, according to Wine GB’s 2025 Industry Report.
Vineyard area has grown to 4,841ha, a 510% increase since 2005, and sales are up 3% despite tough market conditions. Exports continue to rise and are now 9% of total sales.
Kent remains the UK’s leading wine county, while Essex has climbed to third, overtaking East Sussex and Hampshire.
Plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir continue to dominate for sparkling wine, with the top 10 grapes being:
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
Bacchus
Seyval Blanc
Solaris
Pinot Gris
Reichensteiner
Rondo
Pinot Blanc
Still wines remain stable at around a third of production with sparkling making up the rest.
