As English Wine Week approaches, we asked WineGB CEO Nicola Bates to identify three things she’s learned in the industry. She shares her insights on understanding English wine, education and the power of collective action
It’s all about the story and tourism
When I started with WineGB about two and a half years ago, I did a massive tour of our regional members to understand the sector and what mattered to it so I could feed that into our strategy. From that, I learned an awful lot, including that locality and story are essential. In this industry, it’s not just about selling the wine but also the proposition of culture and care.
At WineGB, we’ve tried to make sure that’s part of what we provide to our members, especially through focused cellar door support. For instance, this year at our awards we’ve launched a Large Cellar Door and a Small Cellar Door award, and at our trade tasting we’ll be inviting tourism providers and tour operators to grow that part of the industry.
Education is everything
I think that anyone outside of the sector can’t really begin to understand the passion of the community within English wine. There’s a real commitment to education and learning, as well as genuine care for each other. I’ve learned that this has to be a part of what we do here. Because of that, we offer webinars, seminars and a conference programme, as well as a knowledge hub where we ensure our members are skilled by offering the guidance they need. We’ve also been working with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and we sponsor its awards. It’s important for us to support that whole educational process.
A rising tide lifts all boats
Finally, I’ve learned that this is a sector where collective action is very important and the level of collegiality is remarkable. People genuinely want to share knowledge and support each other, and we’ve been lucky to have had many opportunities for collective collaboration this year. We recently had our biggest-ever exhibition, where more than 80 producers came together to tell the whole category story.
At the same time, London Wine Fair has announced an annual Host Nation focus. With English Wine Week coming up, there’s another opportunity for people to come together, amplifying voices and creating a wider impact.
It’s a really good time for English wine, and it’s been a wonderful journey for me. Our sector is full of people who are always seeking to innovate. I never walk into a vineyard where they’re just churning something out; instead, everyone is constantly experimenting. That playful innovation across the sector is what excites me most.
