Ridgeview wins prestigious UK Wine Guild award

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 27 November, 2015

Sussex-based Ridgeview Wine Estate has won the UK Wine Guild's Highest Achievement Award, in a ceremony at the Wine Guild Winter Banquet at London's Vintners' Hall earlier this week.

The award is given to businesses "in recognition of their setting and maintaining the highest international standards of quality and tradition in wine making".

It was accepted on behalf of the business at the ceremony by co-founder Chris Roberts and her daughter, Tamara Roberts, who is chief executive.

Ridgeview was established in 1995 by Mike and Chris Roberts.

Mike Roberts, who was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the wine industry in 2011, died after a long illness in November 2014.

Tamara Roberts said: "For dad to have had the foresight to risk it all, and to see where we are now, it is really a privilege to have been a part of that journey.

"Our wines have always had a sense of place and provenance, however the world of wine drinkers was yet to see the full potential of what England was able to produce.

Ridgeview logo

"Two decades and hundreds of awards later, Ridgeview and our industry is in a place where our wines are not only understood, they are applauded.

"This award is a humbling reminder of how far we have come as a business, and as an industry.

"It really has been an exceptional year for us in this 20th anniversary year and we thank the Wine Guild for recognising our business with this prestigious award."

Earlier this year, Ridgeview announced ambitious plans to double its output by 2020.

Over 80 ha of new vines have been planted to drive production to 500,000 bottles by the end of the decade.

The winery has also invested £200,000 this year in expanding its cellar-door operation.

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