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Paul Howard Davies's avatar

Enjoyed both your paperback books.I expect we will see more bargain priced English sparkling wines.We did last Xmas when Asda were selling very good Asquith Gardens? at £14.99.

The only way to reduce over supply is to get real on pricing.

Tanners own label English Sparkling wine on offer at £25 a bottle at two minimum looks intriguing.No producer mentioned,but good to see prices getting more realistic.

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Harrison's avatar

Sorry to hear that the wine producers are undergoing financial duress

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Joelle Thomson's avatar

Great read, thank you

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Andy Neather's avatar

Interesting piece, Henry. So essentially you’re saying that recent predictions of an English grape glut from ramped-up production are true?

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

I think they are true but whether that's true or not many or indeed most people aren't making any money and looking to sell or needing more investment.

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Andy Neather's avatar

Interesting. Why is it so hard to make money at it? High entry costs? High labour costs? The wine’s aren’t cheap…

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

I can't tell whether you're being disingenuous, Andy. You write about wine, you can see that people are drinking less and have less money. English wines are expensive, to pay for lower yields, higher labour costs, start-up costs etc. a lot of people expanded at just the wrong time, see whisky for a good comparison. Looks at what's happened to hospitality as well. It's tough out there for everyone.

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Andy Neather's avatar

Of course not! I know the pressures. I just imagined that there might be a stronger domestic market for it, despite its higher price point. Guess not

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Tom Hewson's avatar

Concerning to hear about Ridgeview. Because they would have been one of my guesses! I'm sure many names will, but perhaps not in the form we know them today. It certainly seems true that it pays to be nimble and adaptive unless you've got the sort of Nyetimber cash to power through.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Definitely seemed like the solidest business in England. I believe a buyer has been sold.

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