A collective of leading southwest vineyards joined forces at this week’s WineGB West Wine Awards 2025, pledging even greater collaboration to further bolster the region’s impressive reputation for wine production and tourism.
WineGB West is a wide-ranging collective of 100+ vineyards in the west of England, making world-class English wines – from Langham in Dorset to Wraxall in Somerset, Sandridge Barton in Devon, Three Choirs in Gloucestershire, Camel Valley in Cornwall and many others in the region.
This year’s ‘Best of the West’ competition took place on 16th and 17th November at Langham Wine Estate in Dorset, judged by the great and the good of the wine trade, led by wine and drinks writer and broadcaster, Susy Atkins: “We teased out some real gems and the fizz was unsurprisingly the outstanding category. There were some amazing and successful styles from vineyards of all sizes and across the whole region. The diversity is absolutely evident in the colours and styles, and there were some amazing alternative wine – better than ever before.”
Tommy Grimshaw, winemaker at Langham Wine Estate, who hosted the event had this to say: “I’m really proud of what the West Country is doing. We are working closely together to develop some of the best wines in the country.”
Standout results from this year’s judging, include:
- Wine of the Year and Best Small Producer – Fenny Castle, Somerset, Blanc de Noir.
- Best Sparkling Rosé, Best Alternative and Best Producer – Trevibban Mill, Cornwall.
- Best Blanc de Blanc – Langham Wine Estate, Dorset.
- Best Still Wine – White Castle for their Pinot Noir Précoce Red.
With the English wine scene continuing to evolve at pace, and visitor numbers to vineyards expected to grow by over 20% in the next five years*, the West Country is forging ahead in both winemaking and vineyard hospitality.
Once overlooked by the southeast, West Country wines stole the show at this year’s national WineGB, taking home a third of the awards. Dorset-based Langham Wine Estate, hosts of this year’s WineGB West competition, secured eight trophies overall, including Supreme Champion and the competition’s first ever 99 points. Devon’s Sandridge Barton won Best Alternative White and Best Innovative White, while neighbours Lyme Bay won Best Chardonnay, Best Still Wine and Best White Wine. Wiltshire’s Domaine Hugo won Best Vintage Sparkling, Best Classic Cuvée and Best Boutique Wine, while Wraxall Vineyard in Somerset was awarded Best Bacchus.
Guy Smith, winemaker of Smith and Evans commented: “The wines and vineyard hospitality of the West compare to any in the world. Perhaps it’s the slower pace of life here, allowing our family of producers to take the time needed to craft still and sparkling wines of such rare quality.”
This year’s successes have sparked an intention from leading vineyards across the West Country to work even more collaboratively in 2026 and beyond. So that when people think of English wine, they remember to look west. Plans and discussions are now in motion to work collectively to shine a spotlight on the region’s diverse wine scene, such as working as clusters of vineyards to hold tastings and events.
Lexa Hunt, owner of Wraxall Vineyard in Somerset and Co-Chair of WineGB West added this: “There is such a mix of growers and producers here in the west, many of which are led by farmers as much as winemakers – which I think brings an informality, spirit and passion that makes the discovery of wine feel relaxed and approachable. We sparked real conversations this week; there’s an openness and willingness to work together that makes me very excited for the future of West Country wines.”
Find out more about WineGB West through their website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
*WineGB Tourism Report 2024.
