PRESS RELEASE
24 JUNE 2015
Vines to Wines: new opportunities in a growing market
Fruit growers and other landowners looking to expand their portfolio and tap into a
growing market have an excellent opportunity to find out more at Fruit Focus 2015.
Prospective new entrants who want to join in the success of the English and Welsh
wine industry need look no further than the Vines to Wines event feature, says Jo
Cowderoy, general secretary of the United Kingdom Vineyards Association.
“Fruit Focus is an ideal opportunity to find out more about the wine-growing sector
and its opportunities.
“The UK is producing internationally award-winning wines, bringing diversification of
land use, local employment, and revenue from wine sales and tourism to rural areas.”
The UK’s vine area looks set to break through 2000ha, and last year’s crop was the
biggest ever at over 5m bottles, says Ms Cowderoy. Much of it is sparkling wine that
can now rival some of the best in the world and destined for export; the remainder is
still wine of increasingly good quality that underpins the home and wine tourism
market.
“Growers interested in diversifying into vine-growing and winemaking are invited to
visit the UKVA stand at Fruit Focus, as indeed are more established growers who
want to catch up with the latest developments and network with colleagues,” she
adds.
As well as quizzing fellow growers, visitors also have a great opportunity to catch up
with one of the world’s leading experts on frost protection in the Vines to Wines
seminar at 13.00 in the forums marquee.
Steve Hammersmith, CEO of Shur Farms Frost Protection, will deliver a seminar
enitled Frost protection: Managing cold air flows and cold air accumulation in the
vineyard. He will explain how frost develops and what steps growers can take to
lessen the likelihood and impact of a frost event.
Vineyard workshops
Following last year’s high demand, The United Kingdom Vineyards Association is
once again offering technical workshops in the demonstration vineyard.
Independent adviser and ex-deputy chairman of the UKVA, Roger Marchbank, will
host a demonstration and talk entitled Summer pruning and canopy management.
William Biddulph, a New Zealand trained-winemaker who returned to his native Great
Britain in 2004 and is now an independent consultant, will talk about Disease
monitoring and economic viability.
The practical emphasis of the seminar and workshops will be invaluable to existing
and new growers looking to improve their skills, says Mr Marchbank.
“Being at the northerly edge of the recognised wine-growing latitude we need to take
care if we are to produce good wines. The effort is well worth it – some very high
quality wines are starting to appear from some of the artisan vineyards that make up
most of the UKVA membership.”
Correct canopy management is important to ensure enough leaves are removed to
reduce the threat of disease and to maximise the amount of sunlight onto grapes
without affecting the canopy’s ability to produce fruit, he explains.
In addition, growers need to be able to spot disease problems in the canopy in good
time to ensure they can be kept at bay to protect yield and quality.
“These practical sessions will inform growers, especially less experienced ones, how
to maintain their vines in good condition during the summer to ensure they end up
with good fruit come harvest,” says Mr Marchbank.
Fruit Focus takes place at East Malling Research, Kent on Wednesday 22 July. Visitors
also have a great opportunity to catch up with over 120 industry suppliers and discover
the latest products and services available to the fruit sector.
Tickets cost £10 and are available online or on the day. Visitors can earn 4 BASIS and
2 NRoSO points for attending the event. For more information please go to
www.fruitfocus.co.uk
[Ends 622 words]
Vines to Wines programme
Demonstration vineyard
11.30-12.15; 13.00-13.45; 15.00-15.45
Summer pruning and canopy management
Roger Marchbank
12.15-13.00; 13.45-14.30; 15.45-16.30
Disease monitoring and economic viability
William Biddulph
Forum marquee
13.00
Vines to Wines seminar
Frost protection with Steve Hammersmith
Notes to Editors

Fruit Focus takes place on Weds 22 July 2015 at East Malling, Kent. Opening times 9am
– 5pm.

Show features include leading suppliers’ stands, crop plots, a live demonstration area,
the NFU Fruit Forums, fruit research farm tours and the Vines to Wines exhibition and
seminar programme

Principal sponsor – Mack. A major supplier of fruit and vegetables to the UK’s multiple
retailers, the company history of this family-owned business stretches back to 1874, with
a strong heritage in growing and marketing UK-produced fruit from their base at Paddock
Wood in Kent. www.mwmack.co.uk

Other key sponsors – NFU and Berry Gardens

Fresh Produce Journal is event media partner

Fruit Focus is organised and presented by Haymarket Business Exhibitions and
supported by Horticulture Week/Grower

Visitors will qualify for 4 BASIS points / 2 NRoSO CPD points for attending the event.
Contacts:
Robert Harris
Jon Day
Fruit Focus PR
Event Director
Robert Harris Communications
Haymarket Business Exhibitions
01424 883383
01788 892042
07768 402850
07717 541500
robert@roberthcomms.co.uk
jon.day@haymarket.com