Wine-loving Britons snub produce from vineyards on their doorstep

Despite the increasing demand for locally sourced produce, 54 per cent of those polled had never even tasted wine grown on home soil.

The survey of 2,000 people was commissioned by cottage letting agency cottages4you ahead of English Wine Week, which ends on June 5.

And although many British holidaymakers visit vineyards when on holiday overseas, only 11 per cent have visited a UK winery, despite there being more than 400 vineyards in England and Wales.

Nick Rudge from cottages4you said: “Although many of us champion locally sourced produce, when it comes to wine, we seem to snub what’s on our doorstep.”

Britain is currently the biggest importer of wine, with 1.3 bn litres brought in every year at a retail cost of £7.6bn, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

Julia Trustram Eve from English Wine Producers said: “Nearly half of the people questioned said they would drink English wine if they knew more about it, so it’s key we raise awareness.”

She added: “It’s interesting that the research found that more than half of people questioned said they would have more confidence in English wine if our climate was better, and yet a lot of popular French wine is produced in the north and only a matter of miles from UK shores.”