WineGB National Pruning Competition 2026: Great Result for VineWorks
The WineGB National Pruning Competition, held on 6 March 2026 at Denbies Wine Estate, brought together some of the best vineyard talent in the UK, and we’re proud to say the VineWorks team delivered a fantastic performance.
A huge congratulations to Daniel Bojan, Miltos Mademlis, and Daniel Cicu for representing VineWorks so well on the day.
Our team achieved:
🥉 Individual Third Place: Daniel Bojan
🥈 Team Second Place: VineWorks – Daniel Bojan, Daniel Cicu & Miltos Mademlis
In a competition where margins are incredibly tight, these results reflect real skill, focus and consistency. Daniel’s individual podium finish is a brilliant achievement, and the team result shows the strength of working together under pressure, just like in the vineyard.
Recognising the Winners
Well done to all competitors, and especially this year’s winners:
Individual
🥇 Dragos Nitu – Gusbourne (85 points)
🥈 Ben Ralph – Davenport Vineyards (84 points)
🥉 Daniel Bojan – VineWorks (82 points)
Teams
🥇 Plumpton College (88 points)
🥈 VineWorks (85 points)
🥉 Brenleywine A (80 points)
The standard was exceptionally high across the board. It's great to see the level of pruning expertise continuing to rise across the UK.Why Pruning Matters
Why Pruning Matters
Pruning is one of the most important jobs in the vineyard. Every cut affects the vine’s balance, health and productivity - not just for this season, but for years to come.
That’s why competitions like this matter. They don’t just reward speed, they recognise:
- Good decision-making
- Attention to detail
- Consistency across every vine
It’s a true reflection of day-to-day vineyard work.
A Great Day for the UK Wine Industry
Organised by James Dodson (VineWorks) and Luke Wolfe (Agro Pro) on behalf of WineGB, events like this are also about bringing people together. There was a strong sense of camaraderie throughout the day, with vineyard teams sharing ideas, catching up, and learning from each other.
As James Dodson put it, “Becoming a proficient pruner takes years of practice. It’s both physically and mentally demanding, with each vine needing careful individual assessment.”
Shout out to the Sponsors
The event wouldn't have been possible without the kind support from the sponsors: Denbies Wine Estate, NP Seymour, Agrii, Bekaert, Gripple, Hadley Group, NFU (Haywards Heath), VineWorks, Vineyard Magazine.
