The UK Wine Industry

This study looks at all companies registered in the United Kingdom where they identify themselves as wine makers.
This study includes companies that are dormant or non-trading some of which might be latent while others may operate under their owners' names but are incorporated to protect the business name. In addition, all newly incorporated companies are included. The study will exclude those companies that do not specifically identify themselves as wine makers.
The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the key movers and shakers in the UK wine sector. Only key data has been isolated, particularly the company's net worth and total assets, but also its full name, date incorporated, registered office, other activities, shareholders, directors (with date of birth, occupation and nationality) and number of employees.
Two indicators of size are used: net worth and total assets. These are preferable to turnover which is influenced by profit margins and whether the companies are capital or labour intensive.
In the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, new company incorporations in the wine sector were 25, 33 and 64 respectively.
The productive area for the 2015 harvest was estimated to be approximately 1,839 hectares. Largest area under cultivation was Kent (344 hectares) followed by West Sussex (296), Hampshire (235), East Sussex (231) Surrey (132) and Essex (119). There are now almost 40 hectares of vines planted in Wales.
The main vine varieties grown in the UK are Chardonnay (approx 518 hectares) and Pinot Noir (approx 483 hectares). The other classic sparkling varieties account for 194 hectares. The classic sparkling wines make up over 60% of the planted area within the UK. Just over 38,000 hectolitres of wine were produced in 2015.
The 2014 harvest was the largest ever with 48,267 hectolitres of wine being produced.
There were 523 registered vineyards and 133 wineries in 2017.
United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) and English Wine Producers (EWP) merged in 2017 to form Wines of Great Britain (WineGB), the new national organisation for grape growers and winemakers. WineGB reported as follows: 2,500 hectares under vine, with around 700 vineyards (not all commercial); 5.9 million bottles produced in 2017; sales grew by 31% between 2015 and 2017 and approx 2,100 full-time employees and wines sales are £10.9 billion.
More than 11,000 pubs have closed in the UK in the last decade, a fall of almost a quarter (23%). The number of UK pubs has fallen from around 50,000 in 2008 to some 39,000 in 2018. Although many pubs have closed, the total turnover of pubs and bars has held up, remaining flat since 2008, adjusting for inflation. Around 70% of workers in pubs and bars are paid less than the Living Wage Foundation's living wage.