A label is so much more than a decorated piece of paper – it makes your wine stand out on a crowded shelf, it represents your brand, your story, your values and identity and it speaks to your target market. A label must attract customers to drive sales, carry product and legal information – and withstand the rigours of the ice bucket and the chiller cabinet. Vineyard speaks to Royston Labels to find out how their gold star service, skills, technology and craftmanship ignites your label and brings your brand to life. 

Wine production in the marginal region of Great Britain may be encumbered by volume variations, but the general trajectory is upwards, and according to WineGB is likely to approach 40 million bottles in 2040. Vineyard finds out from WineGB, and exporters Gusbourne Estate and Hattingley Valley, why an export strategy is so important for the health of the industry.

Matthew Jukes was at the WineGB trade tasting event which featured a handful of extraordinary Pinots.

Red Johnson, former TV broadcaster and lover of the drinks industry, set up The British Bottle Company in 2014 to assist British drinks brands in developing their export business. 

What is there not to like with a wine club?  For the winery subscription-based wine clubs are a predictable source of income bringing the higher margins from direct-to-consumer sales. For the customers the benefits include the exclusivity of limited releases, special offers and invitations to events – as well as a regular delivery of their favourite wines. Vineyard finds out how wineries are building closer relationships and customer loyalty, while boosting sales.

Matthew Jukes fell in love with sweet wines on the very first day of my wine trade career.

Founder of Grape Britannia, Matt Hodgson, became so excited about English and Welsh wine that he switched career to join this amazingly dynamic, positive industry and create the opportunity to share his passion with a broader audience. Grape Britannia was formed, and in 2020, as a new business was thrilled to be awarded the Best England & Wales Specialist prize in the prestigious Decanter Retailer Awards. 

Matthew Jukes looks at the way forward for a vast number of English wines.

English and Welsh wine megafans, Natasha and Gary Caller set up The British Wine Cellar to plug a gap in the market and champion the ‘not on the high street’ wines – wines from smaller family run vineyards with interesting stories to entice consumers. Their mission is to make buying English and Welsh as easy and enjoyable as buying any other wine  – and their business is going from strength to strength. 

Matthew Jukes looks at a collection of wines from lesser-known grape varieties.