Ministers are facing criticism for excluding small English vineyards from a tax relief scheme that currently benefits brewers and cider makers. Sir Ashley Fox, the MP for Bridgwater, highlighted this issue during a Westminster debate coinciding with English Wine Week, advocating for more equitable treatment of vineyards like Oatley Vineyard in Cannington.
Speaking in the debate, Sir Ashley emphasized the imbalance, saying, “Small brewers and cider producers receive duty relief to encourage their production, yet small vineyards like Oatley, run by Ned Awty and his family, are left out. It’s illogical and unfair.”
He pressed the government to extend the duty relief to cover small vineyards, stressing the importance of not delaying action. “Small cider producers benefit from this scheme, so I urge the Minister to discuss extending it to small vineyards with the Treasury.”
Unfortunately, his calls went unanswered by ministers, who did not commit to taking up the issue.
The debate also saw cross-party support for broader reforms, such as introducing tourism-related reliefs for wine producers, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and protecting the “English wine” label against misuse.
The minister noted ongoing discussions with industry group WineGB and suggested that upcoming post-Brexit regulatory changes might address these concerns, offering hope for future improvements.