Winvic breaks ground on major UK fine wine storage facility

Winvic Construction has been appointed by Goodman to deliver a 117,500 sq ft state-of-the-art warehouse in Andover for London-based fine wine merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd, which is scheduled to open next summer.

Winvic is designing the industrial unit to be carbon neutral utilising BIM Level 2 and the building will generate its own energy supply, operate with rainwater harvesting and contain electric vehicle charging points. The single storey warehouse located at Andover Business Park will have the capacity to store over 14 million bottles of wine at optimum temperature and in a humidity-controlled environment.

This will be achieved through an enhanced specification roof and wall system that provides a superior building envelope with excellent thermal performance and internal climate control, removing the need for a secondary internal construction. An EPC rating of A+ and BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ will be achieved. Winvic will be fitting out the 2,500 sq ft open plan office space and also undertaking the external works, which include utility and drainage installation, hardstanding and landscaping works, and the creation of access roads, pavements and car parking for 27 vehicles.

Winvic’s Director of Industrial, Distribution & Logistics, Danny Nelson, said: “We have a lot of experience with temperature-controlled facilities, so we’re delighted to be working with long-standing client Goodman once again on this cutting-edge fine wine storage warehouse. This project offers us the opportunity to showcase our strong BIM Level 2 skills and digital design resource – as well as expertise in delivering carbon neutral projects – and we are looking forward to delivering this ultra-secure facility in Andover for Berry Bros. & Rudd.”

George Glennie, Development Director at Goodman, said having a well-located, strategic site was important, combined with "quality, flexible space to support its clients’ rising demand".

Edward Rudd, Business Investment Director for Berry Bros. & Rudd, said: “To offer the largest fine wine storage facility for private clients in Europe will help us realise our ambition to support fine wine collecting now and in the future. Our global private clients want to build personal cellars and state-of-the-art facilities and security are critical for quality and provenance."

With personal savings growing during the pandemic, the omens for the fine wine market are favourable, and the suspension of US/EU tariffs in March has added further impetus.