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  "path": "/news/britain-vineyards-tourists-uk-wine-industry",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-03T08:18:21.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Airlines told to prepare for weeks of summer travel disruption amid jet fuel shortage chaos",
    "More than 300 small boat migrants launched from France and Belgium to avoid police beach patrols",
    "Woke backlash erupts against patriotic St George's Cross roundabout in 'multicultural town'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBritain's vineyards now bring in millions of tourists who have flocked to the UK to sample the booming industry.\n\nVisitors from America, Italy and Scandinavia are increasingly drawn to the rolling hills and sparkling wines of Sussex and Surrey.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDenbies Wine Estate near Dorking welcomed a record 425,000 guests through its gates last year, with the venue's open-top train tours proving particularly popular among international travellers.\n\nChris White, the estate's chief executive, noted \"strong growth from the Nordics, Italy and the USA\" among his visitors.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe explained: \"Wine tourism has become central to the English wine story.\n\n\"People want to understand the story behind the wine, see where it is produced, learn more about viticulture and experience the landscape that makes English sparkling wine possible.\"\n\nThe Kent-based producer Chapel Down has sold more than a million bottles of sparkling wine in a single year.\n\nThe company's American expansion has been particularly aggressive, with its wines now available in 23 states, up from just 10 a year ago.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMore than 200 Whole Foods outlets throughout the United States now stock Chapel Down bottles, while British ambassadorial residences in Washington and New York serve the sparkling wine at official functions.\n\nAn unexpected marketing triumph came via cricket, when Indian captain Shubman Gill was photographed clutching a magnum of Chapel Down following a series draw at the Oval last summer.\n\nThe image spread rapidly across India, prompting the company to launch sales in Delhi.\n\nNorway is the leading export destination for English sparkling wine, a position that has directly translated into increased tourism from Scandinavian nations.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Airlines told to prepare for weeks of summer travel disruption amid jet fuel shortage chaos\n  * More than 300 small boat migrants launched from France and Belgium to avoid police beach patrols\n  * Woke backlash erupts against patriotic St George's Cross roundabout in 'multicultural town'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMark Driver, founder of the Rathfinny estate on the South Downs, has witnessed this connection firsthand.\n\nHe told the Times: \"Norway is the top export market for English sparkling wine and we have seen a considerable rise in tourists from Scandinavian countries, including Norway and Sweden, but also the Dutch, who are big fans of our Sussex sparkling.\"\n\nRathfinny, which provides guided tours, tutored tastings and boutique accommodation, recorded a 20 per cent increase in overseas sales over the past year and anticipates similar growth ahead.\n\nWine tourism has emerged as a financial lifeline for the sector, with WineGB estimating that over 1.5 million people toured British vineyards last summer.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe activity now generates close to a quarter of the industry's total revenue, a crucial buffer given the challenging economics of winemaking.\n\nEnglish producers face a lengthy wait before seeing returns, as vines require years to mature and bottles must age before reaching market.\n\nDespite collecting gold medals at prestigious competitions, including the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge, profitability remains elusive for many.\n\nRidgeview, one of the industry's pioneers, has recently entered administration, while Gusbourne continues to operate at a loss.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**\n**\n\n**\n**\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Britain's vineyards now bring in MILLIONS of tourists who flock to sample booming UK industry"
}