Campden Wine Service: A New Dawn for UK Wine Innovation
Campden Wine Service, located at the Surrey Research Park in Guildford, has opened its doors with a mission to fuel opportunities in the burgeoning UK wine production sector.
As the newest facility under the renowned Campden BRI, this venture aims to drive innovation in an industry that has seen significant and sustained growth in recent years.
According to WineGB, English and Welsh wine production has followed an upward trajectory since 2018, with 2022 seeing a 10% rise in output, reaching 8.8 million bottles. The UK wine market, both at-home and out-of-home, is projected to generate £19.2 billion in revenue by 2024, with consumption volumes expected to hit 1,059 million litres, according to Statista.
What’s more, this steady progress is also evident in the diversification of grape varieties, with 51 new varieties planted last year, bringing the UK total to over 90 grape types.
The UK remains a stronghold for sparkling wine, which accounts for 76% of domestic production, while still wines represent 23%. A modest 1% is reserved for other products, such as Vermouth.
This focus on sparkling wine aligns with the UK’s growing reputation as a global player in the production of world-class bubbly.
The opening of this new wine services laboratory and testing centre is further bolstered by Campden BRI’s strategic partnership with the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). The CEO of Campden BRI emphasised the importance of this collaboration, stating that it will provide top-tier technical support and consultancy to keep the UK wine industry competitive on a global stage.
They also went on to add that the partnership with AWRI, alongside the state-of-the-art facility, is expected to future-proof the industry’s technical capabilities, enabling domestic producers to thrive both locally and internationally.
A particularly promising indicator of the sector’s future came from the 2023 grape harvest, which exceeded the previous record set in 2018 by a staggering 68%. With enough grapes harvested to produce 22 million bottles of wine, the United Kingdom is proving its mettle as a serious contender in the global wine market.
In conclusion, Campden Wine Service’s new facility marks an exciting chapter for the UK wine industry. By investing in top-quality technical services and forging global partnerships, Campden BRI is positioning the UK as a key player in both innovation and production within the wine world.
Furthermore, with strong growth indicators and a clear focus on excellence, the future of British wine production has never looked more promising.
News Credits: Campden BRI invests in new wine lab
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