UK wine organizations create unified body
The merger will be completed in the next few weeks following a vote yesterday at each of the organizations' EGMs.
In the interim, the two bodies will remain separate but work closely towards the new structure.
The unified UK Wine Producers will have 'the sole purpose of promoting, representing and supporting the interests of all sizes of vineyards and producers in the UK.'
This will include acting as a single voice to represent the industry at all levels in dealing with government and other national-international organisations; focus on the control and protection of the provenance, regulation and quality of English and Welsh wines; support delivery of education, training and research; build tourism and create a generic marketing and communications program for domestic and overseas promotion.
Simon Robinson, of Hattingley Valley Wines, who is currently chairman of EWP and will become the chairman of the new organization, highlights new opportunities for the wine industry such as tourism and export, and research and training.
“This merger comes at a key point in the growth of our industry,” he said. “The vote that our members have taken demonstrates a proactive and shared optimism in the future of English and Welsh wines and the many opportunities that lie ahead for us all."
UKVA’s chairman, Peter Gladwin of Nutbourne Vineyards, will assume the role of deputy chairman.
Production of English wine has doubled in the last five years, while the UK government has also set targets to boost production, identify more land suitable for vineyards, and increase exports.
