Campden BRI has opened a new dedicated wine laboratory and tasting centre in Guildford, UK, representing a significant investment in the domestic wine industry.
Based at the Surrey Research Park, the new Campden Wine Services Laboratory will support UK winemakers and international wineries exporting to the UK market.
Campden BRI offers services and products to the food and beverage industry in the UK and Europe including consultancy, analysis and testing, training and legislation, and manufacturing advice. Its facilities provide a space for product development and sensory and consumer studies, including a specialist brewing and wine division.
Now open, the new wine lab will allow UK winemakers to access an extended range of services provided by lab staff, covering the full spectrum of scientific solutions to simple and complex wine challenges. A series of opening events will take place in late August, when members of the UK wine industry will be invited to tour the facility.
Campden has recruited senior analytical chemist Robert Pride, and industry development and technical manager Gregory Dunn, to provide expert advice at the site.
Pride joins with 12 years of technical experience in the wine industry, and was area manager for Endeavour Drinks Group prior to joining Campden BRI. Dunn previously headed the wine division at Plumpton College in Sussex, UK, which trains oenologists and viticulturists at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The launch of the Wine Services Laboratory comes as industry body WineGB releases data that enough grapes were picked in 2023 to make 22 million bottles of wine, up 68% on Britain’s previous record harvest of 2018. The laboratory follows the recent announcement that Campen BRI has become WineGB’s new scientific and technical partner, and builds on Campden’s partnership with the Australian Wine Research Institute in spring 2023.
Peter Headridge, CEO at Campden BRI, commented: “We have invested heavily in the latest analytical equipment in a brand-new laboratory, which will future-proof our technical offering and capabilities”.
He added: “The new lab is a real vote of confidence in the domestic wine industry, which has been growing steadily and now demands the best quality technical support and consultancy to help it compete on the global stage”.
