The first bottles of wine are being produced using grapes grown organically (pending certification) in Sussex, Kent, and Essex by non-profit Haar Winery, led by non-binary winemaker Beck Cedar in Brighton.
Beck started Haar Winery after studying for a degree in winemaking and realising the lack of non-binary representation in the industry.
According to research, there are around 2,300 people working full-time in the UK wine industry, and of those, 47% are women, 52% are men, and 0.4% identify in another way.
Beck is running a crowdfunder where people are able to purchase future bottles of wine via a membership model.
The wine being bottled is a ‘proof of concept’, but if Haar Winery’s crowdfunder is successful, it would be the first urban winery in Brighton & Hove.
Beck wants to use Haar Winery to create job opportunities paid above the living wage for people who are currently underrepresented in the wine industry. Trans and non-binary people, people of colour, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups are among those lacking representation.
In addition to the wine being vegan, it will be a natural wine which uses more traditional methods of winemaking. Another key ethical aspect of the drink will be the fact that members in Brighton & Hove will receive deliveries by a bike ridden by Beck. Members in the UK outside of Brighton & Hove will receive their wine by post.
Beck Cedar, founder and winemaker at Haar Winery, said: “As I entered winemaking, I quickly realised there were no people around me that identify the way I do.
“So I wanted to create a space where people who feel like they don’t get the same chances as others can come and work in a safe space making some fun cool wines, and get a helping hand to find a sustainable career.
“As a nation of prosecco lovers we have become accustomed to cheap wine and have forgotten who is behind it or where it comes from.
“Haar will have a fully transparent supply chain that we will share with members. To do that we need to cut out the ‘middle man’ distribution system and that means we can’t offer a cheap deal.
“The business model ensures that all staff are paid above a real living wage (not a minimum wage).”
Haar Winery can be found on Instagram @haarwinery. People can find full information about Haar Winery and become members via the crowdfunder.
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