What Is English Wine Week?

English Wine Week is the UK’s annual celebration of homegrown wine, held every June when vineyards, restaurants, wine bars, and shops across the country open their doors and invite people to discover what English wine is all about.

If you’ve been meaning to visit a vineyard, try a tutored tasting, or find out what’s being produced down the road, this is the week to do it.

What Is English Wine Week?

English Wine Week is an annual nine-day wine festival and national campaign, organised by WineGB, the trade body for English and Welsh wine. It runs every June and brings together English vineyards, restaurants, wine bars, retailers, and hotels for a week of tastings, tours, dinners, and events celebrating homegrown wine.

During the week, you’ll find:

• Vineyard tours and open days across England
• Tutored wine tastings for beginners and enthusiasts alike
• Wine dinners and food pairings at restaurants and estates
• Meet-the-winemaker sessions and industry talks
• Pop-up wine bars and tastings in city centres
• Special offers and exclusive releases from English producers

English Wine Week was set up to encourage more people to taste, visit, and learn about what’s being produced on home turf. According to the Great British Vineyards Guide, the UK now has over 1,150 vineyards producing more than 16.5 million bottles a year, yet most people still haven’t tried one. English Wine Week exists to change that.

When Is English Wine Week?

English Wine Week takes place every year in late May or June, starting after the Spring Bank Holiday and running for nine days. The exact start date shifts slightly from year to year, so it’s worth checking the WineGB events page for the current year’s dates.

The timing is deliberate. Late May and June are when English vineyards are at their most active and most beautiful. The vines are in full growth, the days are long, and a vineyard visit at this time of year feels like a proper summer occasion.

Who Started English Wine Week and Why?

English Wine Week was founded on 21 June 2006 by WineGB (then operating under an earlier name). At the time, English wine was genuinely improving. English sparkling wine had already started winning blind tastings against French Champagne, but public awareness hadn’t caught up. Most people in the UK simply didn’t know what was being produced on their doorstep.

Modern English wine production only really began in the early 1970s. Bolney Wine Estate in West Sussex was one of the first commercial vineyards in England, planting its first vines in 1972. According to the Wine Society, those early decades were characterised by small, experimental producers figuring out what the English climate could actually produce.

By the 2000s, a clearer picture had emerged:

• The chalky soils of Sussex and Kent closely mirror conditions in Champagne
• English sparkling wine was winning international blind tastings
• Producers had the quality, but not yet the audience

English Wine Week was the industry’s way of fixing that. It has run every year since, growing in scale each time. WineGB took its current form in 2017, when English Wine Producers and the United Kingdom Vineyard Association merged into one body.

Where Is English Wine Week Celebrated?

English Wine Week events take place all over England, from wine bars in London to vineyard open days in Yorkshire. But the south is where vineyard activity is most concentrated. According to the WineGB 2025 Industry Report, the top counties by planted area are:

1. Kent: 1,239 hectares (the largest wine county in England)
2. West Sussex: 671 hectares
3. Essex: 469 hectares
4. East Sussex: 461 hectares
5. Hampshire: 426 hectares
6. Surrey: 130 hectares
7. Dorset: 97 hectares
8. Devon: 87 hectares
9. Gloucestershire: 78 hectares
10. Suffolk: 76 hectares

Southern Wine Regions

Kent, West Sussex, and Hampshire together account for the majority of England’s 4,841 hectares of vines. The South East is where English wine production is most established, most visited, and where you’ll find the richest programme of English Wine Week events. Sussex Modern notes that the number of participating venues in Sussex grows every year.

West Sussex in particular is one of the most rewarding places to spend English Wine Week. Several working estates sit within easy reach of both London and Brighton, and the South Downs National Park provides a spectacular setting with chalk hills that look their best in June.

Wineries in the North

Wine is being made further north, too. Yorkshire now has around 16 commercial vineyards, with ten having recently launched a joint Yorkshire Wine Trail. The WineGB Midlands and North regional association supports producers across those areas too. English Wine Week events in these regions do happen and are worth seeking out. If your priority is vineyard visits and a packed programme of tastings, the south is where the action is.

What Happens During English Wine Week?

English Wine Week features more than 50 events across the country. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll find:

Vineyard tours
Walk through the vines with a winemaker or viticulturalist, see the estate up close, and taste the wines at the end. Many English vineyards run special tours specifically for English Wine Week. Our post on English Wine Week at Bolney Estate gives a good sense of what to expect.

Tutored wine tastings
A guided tasting led by a wine professional, covering several English wines with context on each one. Great for anyone who wants to learn what makes good English wines worth trying. See our first wine tasting guide if you’ve never been to one before.

Wine dinners
Set menus paired with English wines, often with a winemaker present to talk through the choices. These sell out fast, so book early.

Wine pop-up bars
Short-run bars in city centres, parks, and markets pour a curated selection of English wines, usually with food alongside.

Food and wine pairings
Events matching English wines with specific dishes, held at vineyards or in restaurants.

Meet-the-winemaker sessions
Informal Q&As with the people who actually make the wine. More accessible than they sound, and often a highlight of the week.

Seminars and debates
Deeper dives into topics like English wine regions, viticulture, or how English sparkling compares internationally.

The WineGB events page has a searchable map of what’s on near you. English Wine Week is also a good time to simply pick up a bottle. A bottle of English sparkling wine makes an excellent gift for anyone who hasn’t yet discovered the category. Look for the WineGB logo or the Sussex PDO mark as a quality indicator. Our guide to wine tasting covers the basics clearly if you’d like to brush up beforehand.

What Types of Wine Can You Try During English Wine Week?

More than most people expect. English vineyards produce white, red, rosé, sparkling, and orange wines. Here’s a quick guide to each:

English and British sparkling wine
The standout category. Made using the traditional method (same as Champagne) from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, English sparkling wine regularly wins international awards and is produced mainly across Kent, West Sussex, and Hampshire. According to the WineGB 2025 Industry Report, sparkling accounts for 69% of all English wine production, with 91% made using the traditional method. Start here.

White wine
Bacchus is England’s signature grape: aromatic, with elderflower, gooseberry, and fresh herb flavours. Chardonnay is the most planted variety overall (1,498 hectares), and still whites from warmer southern UK vineyards are increasingly impressive.

Rosé
Now 25% of all still wine production, up from 20% in 2023. English rosé tends to be pale, dry, and delicate, closer in style to a Provençal rosé than a sweet one.

Red wine
The smallest category, but improving. Pinot Noir in good English vintages produces light, elegant reds well worth trying.

English orange wines
A niche but growing style. Orange wine is white wine made with extended skin contact, giving it an amber colour, more body, and a different texture. A handful of English vineyards now produce them, typically from Bacchus, Pinot Gris, or Pinot Blanc. If you come across one during English Wine Week, it’s worth a try.

For a deeper look at how English sparkling stacks up against other fizz, read our guide to English sparkling wine vs prosecco.

Is English Wine Any Good? What Do the Awards Say?

Yes, and the competition results back it up. In 2024 alone, UK wines received over 100 top awards at major international competitions. Here are some of the highlights:

• The WineGB Golden 50, the year’s top gold medal winners, was whittled down from more than 100 top prizes awarded to English and Welsh wines
• At the IWSC 2024, English sparkling wines picked up over 100 medals, including six golds, all judged completely blind
• Decanter and the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships have both awarded English fizz at the highest level in recent years
• Some of the best English wines have beaten French Champagnes in blind tastings, not as a one-off result, but consistently

Still wine sales also grew 10% in 2024, according to WineGB, with Bacchus whites in particular building a loyal following among people looking for good English wines to drink at home.

As Wineware notes, English wine producers are gaining genuine global recognition. If you’re new to the category, sparkling is the obvious starting point.

Visit Bolney Wine Estate During English Wine Week

Bolney Wine Estate is one of England’s most established working vineyards. Sitting between London and Brighton on the edge of the South Downs, it’s highly accessible for visitors looking to experience homegrown wine.

During English Wine Week, Bolney runs tours, wine tastings, and events open to all, with no wine knowledge needed. Find out what’s on at our dedicated English Wine Week events page.

Frequently Asked Questions About English Wine Week

When is English Wine Week?

English Wine Week takes place every year after the Spring Bank Holiday, in late May or June, and runs for nine days. The exact dates shift each year slightly. Check the WineGB events page for the current year’s dates.

Who organises English Wine Week?

WineGB, the trade body for English and Welsh wine producers. It has run every year since 2006.

How do I find events near me?

The WineGB events page has a searchable map updated each year.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, for most ticketed events. Popular vineyards sell out well ahead of the week, so book early.

What is the best English wine to try first?

English sparkling wine is the strongest starting point. It’s where the quality case for good English wines is clearest. Look for bottles from West Sussex, Kent, or Hampshire.

Is English Wine Week family-friendly?

Many vineyards welcome families. Vineyard tours and wine tastings are for adults only. Check with individual estates for their policy on children.

Can I get involved if I’m not near a vineyard?

Yes. Wine shops, restaurants, and bars across the country take part. You can also order directly from English producers online.

Are there vegan and organic English wines?

Yes, and the range is growing. A number of English vineyards produce certified vegan wines, which are made without animal-derived fining agents. Several producers also follow organic or biodynamic practices, with more moving in that direction each year. Look out for certifications on the label, or ask the producer directly, as many are happy to talk through how their wines are made.

Does English Wine Week include Welsh wine?

Yes. WineGB represents English and Welsh producers, and Welsh vineyards do participate. The name stuck, but the scope has always included Wales.

Will I enjoy English Wine Week if I don’t drink alcohol?

Plenty of vineyard events are enjoyable without drinking. Many estates offer tours focused on the landscape, history, and winemaking process. Some also produce grape juices, and food events often have non-alcoholic options. It’s worth contacting venues in advance to check, but the vineyard experience doesn’t require a glass in hand to appreciate.