WineGB Awards reveal growing diversity of English and Welsh wine
The 2026 WineGB Awards have highlighted the increasing diversity and ambition of English and Welsh wine, with judges praising both quality and innovation across a broad range of styles. Held over four days in London, the competition assessed 372 wines and showcased a sector that continues to expand beyond its traditional sparkling wine foundations.
The 2026 WineGB Awards judging took place over four days at WSET School London on Bermondsey Street, bringing together some of the UK’s leading wine experts to assess 372 wines from producers across England and Wales.
Organised by WineGB, the annual awards aim to showcase the quality, consistency and variety of English and Welsh wines, providing consumers and the trade with an authoritative benchmark for the sector.
While English and Welsh sparkling wines continue to attract international recognition, judges said one of the most notable themes this year was the breadth of styles now emerging from vineyards across the UK.
New varieties gaining ground
Alongside established sparkling wines, judges encountered examples of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, as well as disease-resistant grape varieties including Divico and Cabernet Jura, which are attracting increasing attention among growers and winemakers.
According to WineGB, the growing range of styles reflects a sector becoming more confident in exploring new varieties and expressions while continuing to build on its traditional strengths.
Peter Richards MW, co-chair of the WineGB Awards, said the diversity on display was one of the defining features of this year’s competition.
“If I was going to pick up on one thing that is really palpable and obvious from this year’s judging, it’s that the diversity of the wines on show is just growing exponentially. That’s really exciting because that talks to producers being ambitious. It talks to consumers, wine drinkers being prepared to find and buy and enjoy an increasing range of wines,” he said.
“I think that 10, 20 years ago, what people expected of English wine was one thing. It was one place. I think now it’s a whole panoply of possibilities.”
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Innovation remains a strength
Fellow co-chair Susie Barrie MW said the relative freedom available to UK producers continues to encourage experimentation and innovation.
“What’s always so exciting is how innovative the English wine scene can be because there are very few rules and regulations that you might have in traditional wine producing regions,” she said.
“This year we’ve tasted rosé made from Gamay, skin contact Bacchus, while in the past we’ve had sparkling reds made from all sorts of grape varieties and it’s those bits of innovation that people can bring into their winemaking that make the whole thing all the more interesting and exciting.”
Industry continues to expand
The awards come as the UK wine sector continues to grow and diversify.
As previously reported by the drinks business, WineGB launched an updated New Entrants Guide earlier this year to support prospective vineyard owners and wine producers entering the industry.
The 104-page guide, titled Making a success in UK viticulture and wine production, was revised to reflect changing market conditions and increasing interest in UK wine production.
Speaking at the launch, WineGB chief executive Nicola Bates said the organisation wanted to ensure new producers entered the sector with a clear understanding of both the opportunities and challenges involved.
“The new Entrants Guide is an incredibly important and significant document for anyone thinking of starting a vineyard,” she said.
Looking beyond sparkling wine
While sparkling wine remains the UK’s flagship category, the results of the 2026 WineGB Awards suggest the industry’s future may increasingly be defined by a broader range of styles.
From classic varieties to emerging disease-resistant grapes, producers are continuing to test the boundaries of what English and Welsh vineyards can achieve.
For judges, that willingness to innovate alongside rising technical standards points towards a sector entering a new phase of confidence and maturity.
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