E152 Ed Mansel Lewis

English wine didn’t evolve — it accelerated. And now it’s facing the consequences.

Ed Mansel-Lewis, Head of Viticulture at Knight Frank, joins Rich Stockdale for a wide-ranging conversation about what really determines success in modern wine — and why the industry is quietly shifting from rapid expansion to ruthless consolidation.

From Champagne houses planting vines in Kent, to £30 non-alcoholic wines generating eye-watering margins, to marketing stunts that outperform heritage overnight, this episode pulls back the curtain on the economics, branding, and power dynamics shaping the future of wine.

But this isn’t just an industry conversation. Ed opens up about leadership, emotional intelligence, mentorship, and the personal cost of building under pressure — at work and at home.