Urban winery and wine bar group Vagabond has been awarded Best Still Wine at the 2025 Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA), as part of a standout showing that saw the business take home nine medals in total, including three golds.
The headline win went to the rare Solena Batch 003 NV. This non-vintage, skin-contact Ortega was crafted at Vagabond’s Battersea-based urban winery, and blends multiple years of wine in a continuous fractional ageing system – a method rarely seen in English still wine. The result is a complex, layered wine that stood out amongst over 120 entries from across the country.
Only nine gold medals were awarded across the entire competition this year, with Vagabond securing a third of them; the most ever awarded to a single entrant in IEWA’s nine-year history.
Founded in 2010, Vagabond operates a growing network of wine bars across London and Birmingham, each powered by self-pour wine machines offering more than 100 wines by the glass. At the heart of the business is its urban winery, previously based in Battersea, where winemaker José Quintana produces small-batch, contemporary English wines from grapes sourced across the country.
“This recognition from the IEWA is a real milestone,” said Quintana. “To be making award-winning wines in the middle of London, working with fantastic growers and a creative, passionate team is incredibly rewarding. We want to show that English wine can be bold, characterful and proudly urban.”
Gold Medals awarded to Vagabond Wines:
Solena Batch 003 NV – also named Best Still Wine of the competition
Vagabond x Artelium Nature Series Cuvée 2018 – A traditional method sparkling wine made in collaboration with Artelium in Sussex, praised for its autolytic character and complexity
Night Tripper 2023 – an orange wine blend of four aromatic varieties, celebrated for its elegance and texture
Three additional silver medals were awarded to Vagabond’s 2023 Chardonnay, 2023 Pinot Noir, and Dios Mío 2023 (Bacchus skin contact) with several other wines also receiving medals.
The IEWA judging took place in May 2025, with 28 industry professionals assessing over 120 wines from 55 producers. Full results are now live at www.iewa.uk.
