The United Kingdom Vineyards Association

                               Chairman: Ian Edwards

The UK Vineyards Association is formed from six Regional Associations and a grouping of the larger producers in the UK. It is the organisation to which grape growers and winemakers belong in order to receive and share information on grape growing and winemaking, have a voice in Westminster and Brussels, and to promote their products. The UKVA is the UK Government recognised industry body (RIB), and as such has direct access to and contact with all official bodies connected to our industry, such as Defra, The Wine & Spirit Trade Association, and The Food Standards Agency.

We welcome all who are interested in grape and wine production in the UK, large or small producers, and those who do not produce but who wish to be involved and informed.

Members will belong to the appropriate Regional Association which provide contact and organise local events, meetings and competitions.  The UKVA provides a number of events and activities at national level, which include:

• The English & Welsh WIne of the Year Competition: the national competition for UK produced wines from fresh grapes, taking place each year in June.  The wines are rigorously tasted by a team of Masters of Wine.  The awards are presented at a prestigious ceremony in July.  The results are well publicised nationally, and award stickers bear witness to the consumer that our wines live up to the world level expenctations.
• Industry symposia, which take place annually, and cover topics on wine production and grape growing, presented by top speakers, as well as debates with the audience on current topics in the wine world.
• Regular bulletins to all its members outlining any up to date issues on legislation, and other news affecting the industry
• Twice yearly industry magazine, The Grape Press, which includes technical articles and a directory of services and consultants available to the industry
• Producing annually an up to date guide of approved sprays

The UKVA works closely with English Wine Producers, the marketing association for the industry, and is involved in events such as the annual trade and press tasting, taking place on or around St George’s Day each year, and English WIne Week a the end of May.

The UKVA is the only recognised voice of the industry.  Our aim is to help growers and winemakers have confidence that their wines can compete on quality with whatever the world sends to these shores, and ensure that there is a demand for our wines at prices that are realistic in relation to production costs. If you have a mind to getting involved with vines and wines in the UK, please contact the UKVA office, (Email: sian@ukva.org.uk) - we will do all that we can to help.

You can also find out more information about the UKVA and its services to members on our website.

Ian Edwards

UKVA Chairman

All enquiries to UKVA - please contact sian@ukva.org.uk

THE REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Below is a list of the six regional associations that cover England and Wales.  The counties that fall within each region are listed, along with the main contact for each regional vineyard association.

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East Anglian Winegrowers Association

Norfolk

Suffolk

Essex

Bedfordshire

Cambridgeshire

Hertfordshire

London North

More information available on their website www.eastanglianwines.co.uk

Chairman: Mary Mudd

Carpenter’s House, Green Lane Corner, Boxted, Colchester, CO4 5TR

Tel: 01206 272609

Email: mm_mary_@hotmail.com

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Mercian Vineyards Association

Leicestershire

Rutland

Northamptonshire

West Midlands

Shropshire

Cheshire

Lancashire

Lincolnshire

Nottinghamshire

Derbyshire

Staffordshire

Warwickshire

Yorkshire

More information available on their website www.ukvines.co.uk/mercia/index.htm

Chairman: Chris Gallimore

Welcombe Hills Vineyard, Vine Cottage, Kings Lane, Snitterfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks CV37 0QB

Tel: 01789 731071

Email: chrisgalim@hotmail.com

Secretary: Julia Tickridge

Email: julia.tickridge@btinternet.com

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South East Vineyards Association

Surrey

Sussex

Kent

London South

More information available on their website: http://seva.uk.com/moodle

Chairman: Chris Foss

Plumpton College, Ditchling Road, Plumpton, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3AE

Tel: 01273 890454

Email: chris.foss@plumpton.ac.uk

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South West Vineyards Association

Cornwall

Devon

Somerset

Avon

Gloucesterhire

Herefordshire

Worcestershire

Wales

More information available on their website www.swva.info

Chairman: Brian Shirley

Wraxall Vineyard, Wraxall, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RQ

Tel: 01749 860331

Email: jackybrayton@wraxallvineyard.co.uk

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Thames & Chiltern Vineyards Association

Oxfordshire

Berkshire

Buckinghamshire

London West

More information available on their website www.thameschilternsvineyards.org.uk

Chairman: Richard Liwicki

Bothy Vineyard, Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire OX13 6QW

Tel: 01865 390067

Email: office@bothyvineyard.co.uk

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Wessex Vineyards Association

Hampshire

Dorset

Wiltshire

Isle of Wight

A map of Wessex vineyards is available here

Chairman: Ian Edwards

Furleigh Estate, Furleigh Estate, Salway Ash, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5JF

Tel: 01308 488991

email: iemail@btinternet.com

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