Vagabond, the experiential wine bar operator that offers more than 100 wines for customers to self-pour and explore by the glass, has commenced the inaugural harvest at its new Urban Winery in London’s Canada Water.
Vagabond has installed brand new tanks and taken delivery of the first 16 tonnes of grapes from vineyards across the south of England as the harvest season swings into action. Two tonnes of Ortega from Black Bourn Vineyard in Suffolk were first to arrive, followed closely by Bacchus grapes from Hidden Spring in Sussex and Pinot Noir Précoce grown by Yew Tree Vineyard in Oxfordshire. Vagabond experienced its biggest ever processing day last week as it took delivery of eight tonnes of grapes on Wednesday 9 September – more than double the previous record at its former Urban Winery in Battersea.
Vagabond’s Canada Water location is the largest Urban Winery in the UK, with capacity to produce up to 100,000 bottles every year. The site officially opened in December 2025, following a significant investment from Vagabond owner Majestic Wine Group and backing from Fortress Investment Group.
The first harvest in the new state-of-the-art facility marks an exciting new chapter for the brand and the story of its Urban Winery. Vagabond first started making wine in a small area within its Battersea Power Station bar, producing its first vintage in 2017. The working winery quickly became a key part of the Vagabond experience for Battersea guests, allowing them to see first-hand how Vagabond’s wines were made, and sample bottles that were being produced just metres away.
Vagabond Canada Water’s landmark first vintage comes as the English wine industry prepares for what could be one of its earliest and most exciting harvests in recent years. Following a hot, dry summer, producers across the country are reporting healthy vineyards, clean fruit and encouraging levels of ripeness. The conditions have accelerated ripening across many vineyards and are expected to produce smaller, more concentrated berries with pronounced flavours. They have also created a shorter and more intense picking window, with fruit from several regions and grape varieties likely to reach optimum ripeness at around the same time.
Jose Quintana, winemaker at Vagabond, said: “The start of harvest is always one of the most exciting moments of the year, but even more so this autumn as we bring grapes grown across the South of England into our new Urban Winery for the first time. We’re working with some exceptional fruit again this year and the grapes are really popping with flavour. We can’t wait to create even more incredible wines for our guests to enjoy – not just here in Canada Water, but across all of our Vagabond bars.”
