|  The United Kingdom Vineyards Association
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.
Bob Lindo
UKVA Chairman
bob@camelvalley.com
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
Hertfordshire
London North
More information available on their website www.eastanglianwines.co.uk
Chairman: Piers Greenwood
New Hall Vineyards, Purleigh, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 6PN
Tel: 01621 828343
Fax: 01621 828891
Email: piers@newhallwines.co.uk
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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: David Millington
Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, Wroxeter Court , Shrewsbury , Shropshire SY5 6PQ
Tel: 01743 761888
Email: wine@wroxetervineyard.co.uk
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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: Simon Day
1 Putley Green, Putley, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2QN
Tel/Fax: 01531 660668
Email: simon@vineandwine.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: Bob Nielsen
Brightwell Vineyard, Rush Court, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8LJ
Tel: 01491 836586
Email: wines@brightvines.freeserve.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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