English Wine Week
June 20 - June 28
About English Wine Week
English Wine Week takes place from Saturday 20 June to Sunday 28 June 2026. Coordinated by WineGB, the trade body for English and Welsh wine, the week is a national celebration of British-made wines and the vineyards, winemakers, and businesses behind them. Tastings, vineyard tours, and pop-up dinners run across the country, giving the public the chance to discover one of the fastest-growing sectors in British food and drink.
How to Celebrate English Wine Week
The whole week is built around getting English and Welsh wine into more glasses. Here are some ways to take part:
- Visit a vineyard – England now has over 900 vineyards, many of which open their gates for tours, tastings, and meals during the week. Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, and Essex are all major wine regions.
- Try an English sparkling wine – English sparkling wine has won international awards and frequently outperforms Champagne in blind tastings. Try producers such as Nyetimber, Chapel Down, Gusbourne, and Hattingley Valley.
- Host a wine tasting at home – Pick up a few different English wines from your local independent retailer, supermarket, or directly from a vineyard, and run a side-by-side tasting with friends.
- Pair English wine with British food – Match a sparkling wine with smoked salmon and Welsh rarebit, or a bacchus with goat’s cheese and asparagus, for a true taste of British terroir.
- Attend an English Wine Week event – WineGB lists hundreds of events on its website, from masterclasses in London to cellar tours in Cornwall.
- Order English wine at a restaurant – Pubs and restaurants increasingly stock English wines. Asking for them at the bar is a small but powerful way to support the sector.
- Buy from an independent wine shop – WineGB partners with independent merchants across the UK during the week. Shopping with them keeps money in the local economy and rewards retailers championing English wine.
- Share your tastings online – Use #EnglishWineWeek and #DrinkEnglishWine on Instagram and X to help boost awareness of British wine producers.
What is English Wine Week?
English Wine Week is the UK wine industry’s annual celebration of British-grown and British-made wines. Run by WineGB, the national association for English and Welsh wine, the week brings together vineyards, retailers, restaurants, and consumers in a coordinated campaign that boosts awareness, drives sales, and celebrates the people behind one of the fastest-growing sectors in British food and drink.
When is English Wine Week?
English Wine Week 2026 runs from Saturday 20 June to Sunday 28 June 2026. The week traditionally falls in late June, taking advantage of long summer days and the start of vineyard visiting season. Dates are set each year by WineGB.
The History of English Wine Week
The history of English wine reaches back nearly 2,000 years to Roman times, when vines were first planted in Britain. Wine production continued through the medieval period, before declining due to climate, taxation, and competition from imported wines.
The modern English wine industry began in the 1950s and 1960s with a handful of pioneering vineyards in the south of England. The breakthrough came when growers realised that the chalky soils and cool climate of southern England were almost identical to those of the Champagne region in France. From the 1990s onwards, English sparkling wine grew rapidly in quality and reputation, winning major international awards. The number of vineyards in England and Wales has surged, surpassing 900 in recent years, and the industry now produces millions of bottles annually.
English Wine Week was launched by WineGB to give the industry a focused annual moment to engage consumers, support retailers, and celebrate progress. It has grown each year, with vineyards across the country reporting significant uplifts in visitor numbers, restaurant sales, and direct-to-consumer purchases during the week.
Fun Facts About English Wine Week
- England now has more than 900 vineyards, with the largest concentrations in Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire.
- English sparkling wine regularly outperforms Champagne in blind taste tests at international competitions.
- The chalky soils of southern England are geologically the same as those in Champagne, just on a different side of the English Channel.
- Bacchus, often called “England’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc”, is one of the most successful still wine grapes in England.
- The English wine industry employs thousands of people, from grape growers and winemakers to hospitality staff and tour guides.
- Wine production has been recorded in England since Roman times, with hundreds of years of revival, decline, and renewal.
Why English Wine Week Matters
English wine is one of the great British food and drink success stories of the past two decades. English Wine Week supports the producers, retailers, and hospitality businesses driving that growth, while introducing more people to the quality of British-grown wines. Beyond economics, the week celebrates British terroir, climate adaptation, and the craftsmanship of the country’s winemakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is English Wine Week?
It is an annual celebration of British wine run by WineGB, with vineyards, retailers, and hospitality venues across the country running tastings, tours, and special offers.
When is English Wine Week in 2026?
English Wine Week runs from Saturday 20 June to Sunday 28 June 2026.
Where can I find English Wine Week events?
The WineGB website publishes a full list of events, including vineyard open days, tastings, dinners, and online masterclasses. Many events sell out, so it is worth booking early.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best English wine moments on social media with #EnglishWineWeek and #DrinkEnglishWine. Tag your friends and challenge them to discover their new favourite English producer.
Related Awareness Days
- National Cheese Day – A natural pairing for English wine, especially with British cheeses.
- National Egg Day – Another celebration of British food and producers.
- National Allotments Week – Celebrates British growing, of which vineyards are a flourishing part.
Links
- Visit the official English Wine Week page at WineGB
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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