Well, this is lovely news to share. UKFizz has been named Specialist Wine Brand & Creative Consultancy of the Year 2026 – UK in LUXlife’s Barrel and Bottle Awards.
Honestly, when you spend so much time building something, researching it and wondering what you could do better, it is lovely to stop for a moment and see it recognised. And it gives us a good reason to thank the people helping UKFizz along the way.
UKFizz is a passion project. I think anyone who has heard me talk about it has probably worked that out by now. It takes a lot of research, a lot of time and, occasionally, a reminder to step away from the screen.
But I keep coming back to the same thing. We have some brilliant wines being made here. We have people putting everything into their vineyards and wineries, and venues choosing to put those wines in front of their customers. I want to help more people find them.
That means the restaurant down the road, a pub you have never thought to try, or a bottle shop whose owner can introduce you to something new. A vineyard visit is a lovely part of it, of course. I also want British wine to be something you come across while you are simply out enjoying yourself.
You can start with a producer, explore their wines and find a place serving or stocking them. Or go the other way. Find somewhere you like, see what is on the list and get curious about who made it.
My background is in marketing, design and the wine industry. My partner Lindsay leads research and communications for UKFizz. Between the work and our travels through wine regions, we have spent a fair amount of time thinking about what makes people stop, try a wine and want to know more.
After all that research, and plenty of conversations, I still think the personal connections matter most. Hearing someone’s story. Being welcomed somewhere. Finding a wine you love and telling a friend about it.
I have written more about where the idea came from in Why I’m building UKFizz, including my experience in British Columbia’s wine industry and what struck us when we returned to the UK.
There is enough hard work involved in making wine, running a venue and building a business. Finding a glass to enjoy should be a good bit.
I want UKFizz to make it easier to ask a question, try something unfamiliar or say, “I had a really good British wine here. You should give it a go.” You can be curious without knowing all the answers. I certainly still have plenty of questions.
That is part of the pleasure for me. There is always another place, another bottle or another person to discover. We are looking for ways to support the UK wine market, and I think helping people enjoy it is a very good place to start.
To the venues, producers, clients and wine lovers who have supported us, thank you. We know how busy you are. Taking the time to check a profile, send a photograph, share an event or tell us that something needs correcting means a lot.
Thank you, too, to the producers joining our Founding 100 and the people making space for British wines on their menus and shelves. You have given us stories to tell and places to point people towards.
Recent Fizz Finder photographs from The Pump House in Liverpool, showing Chapel Down on the pub’s menu and bar, are a lovely example. Someone spots a wine, shares it, and helps the next person find it. Those little contributions really do help.
UKFizz also brings together the work I can offer wine and hospitality businesses. That includes branding and packaging, websites and online shops, photography, marketing campaigns, and social and email content.
Sometimes it is a new wine that needs an identity. Sometimes a website has become hard work, or a venue has a good story that people have not heard yet. If that sounds familiar, have a look at our services, or just get in touch and tell me what you are working on.
You can also read UKFizz’s award listing on LUXlife.
We are still building UKFizz, and there is plenty to work out. I would really like more people to be involved in shaping it.
If you enjoy British wine, tell us where you have found it. Send the venue and town, share a photograph, or tag @uk.fizz. Try somewhere new, take a friend, and let us know how you get on.
If you are a venue or producer, have a look at your profile. Is it a fair picture of what you do? Have we missed somewhere serving your wines, an upcoming event or something you would like people to know? A quick note from you can make a big difference.
And if you have an idea for something we could do together, I would love to hear it. This has taken a lot of time and thought to get this far. Seeing other people get involved is what makes the next bit exciting.
A little more to explore
