Campden BRI opens new facility to boost UK’s growing wine industry
Campden BRI has opened the doors to a new, world-class wine services laboratory and testing centre in Guildford.
The state-of-the-art facility, Campden Wine Services, based at the Surrey Research Park, is equipped with cutting-edge technology and staffed by a team of seasoned experts with deep knowledge of national and international wine sectors. This investment demonstrates Campden BRI’s dedication to driving progress and innovation across all areas of the UK wine industry.
The opening also marked Campden BRI’s new partnership with the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), the world’s leading wine research institute.
On opening day, Robert Pride, senior analytical chemist at Campden BRI, guided grape growers, winemakers, wine retailers, and importers through the new laboratory. Following the tour, Technical Manager Dr. Gregory Dunn conducted a hands-on exercise in identifying wine taints for the guests.
Peter Headridge, CEO of Campden BRI, and Dr. Eric Wilkes from AWRI delivered a series of interactive presentations showcasing Campden BRI’s extensive capabilities. They highlighted how its wine services are uniquely positioned to foster improvement and growth within the UK wine industry through a distinctive range of analytical services, support, and expert advice.
Headridge noted how the domestic UK wine industry has experienced steady growth and now requires top-quality technical support and consultancy to remain competitive globally. According to data from WineGB, the 2023 grape harvest exceeded the 2018 record by 68%, with enough grapes to produce 22 million bottles of wine.
“Our partnership with AWRI and investments in this facility will be transformative for the UK industry and will future-proof our technical services and capabilities, demonstrating a strong vote of confidence in the domestic wine sector,” he said. “We are committed to providing the industry with the advanced tools and expertise it needs to thrive in both local and international markets.”
