New award seeks to recognise English Wines

The International Wine & Spirit Competition has teamed up with drinks industry charity The Benevolent to introduce a trophy for the English Wine Producer of the Year to be presented this year. The annual award aims to highlight and recognise the emergence of English wine onto the international stage during the last decade.

Chief executive of The Benevolent David Cox explained: “English Wines have really captured people’s attention recently and similarly The Benevolent is winning hearts and minds with our new approach to helping those in need in our trade so this is a perfect way to highlight our respective ambitions.”

He said “This coming together is apt with The Benevolent raising awareness of the great work that they do at a time when interest in English wine is probably at an all-time high.”

The new trophy was also welcomed by trade association English Wine Producers, whose marketing director Julia Trustram Eve said: “We are truly delighted that The Benevolent is supporting this trophy. As a vital and increasingly prominent part of the UK wine trade it is important that English Wine Producers forge closer bonds with their trade charity.