On the eve of New Year reforms for the wine industry, Environment
Secretary has welcomed the scrapping of
outdated rules inherited from the EU.
The reforms made possible by leaving the EU will uncork
innovation, encourage sustainable practices and reduce burdens
for businesses.
In addition to the UK’s longstanding status as a global wine
trading hub, with a wine market worth over £10 billion last year,
England and Wales have a fast-growing winemaking industry. Now
boasting almost 900 vineyards, hectares under vine in the UK have
more than quadrupled since 2000. Viticulture – the cultivation
and harvesting of grapes – is now Britain’s fastest-growing
agricultural sector, employing around 2,300 people full time with
a predicted 50% growth in jobs by 2025.
WineGB also reports 2023 is Great Britain’s largest-ever grape
harvest, expected to produce an estimated 20-22m bottles and over
50% bigger on Britain’s previous record year in 2018.
Benefiting from perfect growing conditions in the south of
England, English Sparkling Wine has seen a surge in popularity in
recent years with 8.3 million bottles produced last year. The
home-grown fizz is expected to be a popular choice for Brits to
see in the New Year.
From tomorrow (1 January 2024), makers of English Sparkling Wine
will no longer have to use mushroom-shaped stoppers and foil
covers on bottlenecks, giving producers the choice to opt for
simpler packaging to reduce both waste and costs.
Restrictions will also be scrapped on the making and selling of
piquette - a lower-alcohol drink dating back to antiquity, made
by extracting the remaining goodness from grapes left over after
winemaking. This gives producers the option to create new income
streams and tap into consumer demand for lower-alcohol drinks.
In a move welcomed by wine traders, the government will also
remove the requirement for imported wines to have an importer
address on the label, reducing administrative burdens for
businesses.
Environment Secretary said:
“Our departure from the EU gives us the opportunity to review and
scrap outdated and burdensome rules that have been holding back
our wine sector.
“The reforms we’re introducing tomorrow will help our wine
producers and traders become more profitable, dynamic, and
sustainable – while freeing them from pointless red tape.
“Looking ahead to 2024, I’m committed to this government
continuing to support our world-class winemakers, vineyards and
traders to grow and innovate.”
, CEO of WineGB, the trade
association for Great British vineyard and wine producers,
said:
“We welcome the additional choice that comes from this first
phase of actions from the wine reform consultation. There will be
producers who are keen to take advantage of all and every option
to reduce materials on bottles, so we can expect to see fewer
foils on sparkling allowing you to celebrate that bit faster, and
with an environmental benefit.
“We look forward to working with Government and the Defra team on
future consultations, and am sure they will be as constructive as
those now being implemented.”
Earlier this week, the government announced that businesses will
be able to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in 500ml and
200ml sizes as well as a new 568ml ‘pint’ quantity.
The reforms coming into force
tomorrow (1 January 2024) follow this year’s Wine: reforms to retained EU law
consultation on the overly complex
and bureaucratic existing 400-page rulebook for wine. The changes
aim to facilitate international trade and foster domestic
innovation and growth.
ENDS
Notes to
editors:
- The UK wine market was worth over £10 billion in 2022 in
off-trade and on-trade sales, and the UK’s developing domestic
production sector has attracted significant global investment.
- The UK is a global hub for wine. It is home to a diverse and
dynamic wine sector and is the second largest importer of wine in
the world by value.
- In 2022, off-trade sales of still, sparkling, and fortified
wine via supermarkets, convenience stores, and specialist
off-licences in the UK were worth around £7.6 billion, while
on-trade sales through hospitality outlets were worth an
estimated £3.5 billion.
- The domestic winemaking sector in England and Wales is by
comparison very small, but rapidly growing and developing a
global reputation for quality. Production reports for 2022 show a
36% increase in production. There has been a 74% growth in
hectarage of vines between 2017 and 2022 (from 2257ha to 3928
ha).
