UK wine enters a new era

The 2026 WineGB Awards have revealed a decisive shift in English and Welsh winemaking, with judges praising world-class quality across sparkling and still wines. Langham Wine Estate claimed Supreme Champion and multiple trophies including Best Sparkling for its Corallian Classic Cuvée (99 points), while still wines proved a major standout, with Blackbook Winery's Pygmalion Chardonnay scoring 97 points for Best Still Wine and Balfour's Bacchus earning 96 points. The results underscore growing technical sophistication and diversity in UK production, from established producers to newcomers like Abingworth Vineyard making strong debuts.