Vineyard categorisations

Abandoned vineyard 

Abandoned vineyards are sites which are not routinely maintained. They could be restored although often, in time, they may be grubbed up.    

We regard these as low priority vineyards. We would contact the registered holder to keep up to date on any changes in status. We visit every four years.   

Hobby vineyard 

Hobby vineyards are:   

• sites where grapes are grown for personal enjoyment.    
• any wine made is for the registered holder’s own consumption.    
• no grapes or wine from a hobby vineyard are sold.    

We regard these sites as low priority. We would contact the registered holder to keep up to date on any changes in status. We visit every four years.   

Commercial vineyard 

Commercial vineyards are:   

• sites where grapes are grown and sold as a commercial crop to a winery.    
• grapes can also be sold to other manufacturers for grape juice or other products.    

In this type of system, you may want to consider having a formal contract to protect both parties. Some example contracts are available to WineGB members. The winery or manufacturer taking the crop may have their own.   

Grapes must be transported with a Commercial Accompanying Document (CAD), unless exemptions apply. We would contact the registered holder every two years to keep up to date on any changes in status.  

We visit every four years.   

Commercial vineyard making or selling wine 

At a commercial vineyard, the holder will grow their own grapes and either vinify them on site or send the grapes to a commercial winery for vinification. This may include the bottling process. The finished wine is then returned to the vineyard for sale.    

The holder producing wine must complete a WSB 21 production return annually. This indicates the type and quantity of wine made.   

If the holder produces their own wine, they are required to:   

• maintain accurate winery records   
• maintain records of any grapes they may buy or sell   
• submit an annual wine production declaration   

We visit these vineyards at least once a year if they make their own wine, or once every two years if they have their wine made under contract on a different site.    

Commercial contract winemaker 

The holder may, in addition to making their own wine, also make wine for other growers. Both commercial vineyards and hobby vineyards use contract winemakers to make wine for them.  

The holder must:    

• maintain accurate winery records   
• maintain records of any grapes they may buy or sell   
• submit an annual wine production declaration   

We visit these premises twice a year.