Scientific support is vital for grape growers and NIAB is currently developing a programme of research to support the unique needs of UK vineyards and winemakers. You can choose between three membership clubs that will give you the information you need: NIAB Vine Club for grape growers, Fizz Club UK for sparkling winemakers and the White & Red Club for still winemakers.
Led by NIAB’s viticulture and oenology research leader Belinda Kemp, members will be directly involved in bridging the gap between viticulture plant science, wine science with commercial winemaking and practical applications, ensuring that they will be the first to benefit from emerging, innovative research.
| NIAB Vine Club | Fizz Club UK | White & Red Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For UK vineyards and growers, focusing on cool climate viticulture. Giving you the latest information to help you meet the industry's needs. | Based on the highly successful outreach programme, Fizz Club in Canada but the model has been changed to meet the specific needs of UK sparkling winemakers. | Set up to meet the needs of UK still winemakers, and will include winemaking with Vitis vinifera and PIWI varieties. | |
| Who's it for? | UK Vineyard Managers, Assistant Vineyard Managers, and vineyard staff currently employment in a vineyard, plus agribusinesses, agronomists and vineyard consultants. | All UK Winemakers | All UK Winemakers |
| Membership fee | Introductory first year rate in 2024 - £500 +vat per person, £1,000 +vat annually thereafter. | Introductory first year rate in 2024 - £500 +vat per person, £1,000 +vat annually thereafter. | Introductory first year rate in 2024 - £500 +vat per person, £1,000 +vat annually thereafter. |
| Membership term | 1st April-31st March annually | 1st June-31st May annually. | 1st June-31st May annually. |
Membership benefits for all clubs:
- Either annual NIAB Vine Club Day focusing on the most recent, relevant cool climate viticulture research topics, including guest researchers involved in viticulture research OR
- Annual NIAB Sparkling wine research day and a still winemaking research day for the White and Red Club members. Both days will focus on the most recent, relevant scientific research topics, including tastings of NIAB research wines and guest researchers involved in winemaking and research.
- Access to members website, presenting project updates, cool climate viticulture and wine news, covering challenges and solutions, regenerative viticulture practices and new vineyard and wine technology
- Twice-yearly enewsletter covering UK cool climate viticulture news and topics - one for each club
- Annual technical webinar on a topic requested by members
- Opportunity to attend national and international members only tours/visits organised by NIAB
- Access to confidential scientific expert advice and guidance
- Further benefits to come in 2025.
Upcoming events include:
- Presentation (in person): Regenerative viticulture practices: Dealing with soil compaction & Under vine management, at NIAB East Malling with an international guest speaker
- Presentation (in person) and Installation of IoT Accurate Yield Estimation at NIAB East Malling, with Vine Scout, Australia, and Real time Grape Yield Estimation.
“In setting up the NIAB vine and wine clubs, we plan to work with UK grape growers and winemakers, ensuring our grape and wine industry benefits directly from our cool climate-focused, scientifically robust research that offers tangible results winemakers and growers can use in decision making. NIAB is looking forward to working closely with UK grape growers and winemakers to address viticulture challenges associated with our changing climate.” - Belinda Kemp, Head of Viticulture and Oenology Research.