Henry Connell (W 97-02) is making waves in the world of wine with the help of fellow Rugbeians Phil Norman (Sh 96-99) and Calum Lennox (K 99-04). He started The Uncommon with one mission: to make delicious wine with the lowest possible impact. 

Part of the solution came from close to his then-home, New York. Canned wine was on the rise in the US, driven by its convenience and sustainability. The rest of the solution came from his home-home. English wine was winning global sparkling wine awards, beating the likes of Champagne!

When he took regard for tradition out of the equation, it all made a lot of Uncommon sense. 

English wine in cans.

No transporting wine around the world. No heavy, breakable glass bottles. No opening a bottle only to pour half down the sink.

Henry quit his job, moved back to the UK, retrained in viticulture and oenology and set about making it a reality, much to the chagrin of the elders of the industry who said it shouldn’t, and couldn’t, be done.
 

Meet The Locals

Today, The Uncommon’s English wines regularly win awards alongside some of the world’s finest bottles. Made from grapes grown in their Kent vineyard, under the dutiful direction of Phil (following his time in Burgundy, South Africa & New Zealand), the range can now be found everywhere from Waitrose to Fortnum & Mason, British Airways to Virgin and Wimbledon to Lords. 

Each wine is instantly recognisable by their character artwork. The level of detail that went into their creation is a direct reflection of the quality at every step of production. If you see them around, their Bubbly Wines and Spritzers are affectionately known as Gerald, Eleanor, Alfie & Peggy - names chosen by their customers.
 

Sustainability at the Core

Their latest Impact Report reveals the huge strides taken toward reducing its environmental impact: their wine has over 50% lower emissions than the next-best canned wine in the UK and an impressive 86% less than bottled wine. 

Aluminium cans, which are now recycled at a rate of 82% in the UK, provide a far more sustainable packaging choice. "We believe we have the lowest carbon footprint of any wine available in the UK, per millilitre produced," says Henry.

But The Uncommon isn’t stopping there. Having been the first winemaker in the UK to become B Corp Certified™, they are now charging ahead toward Net Zero and embracing regenerative farming. "We have a long way to go, but we’re optimistic and all-in for the journey ahead," Henry adds.
 

Unveiling Still Wine Masterpieces 

Last summer, The Uncommon released its first-ever collection of English still wines at Wimbledon and is now taking flight - literally with BA.

The White, Rosé and Red - aka Clarence, Penelope and Percival - are crafted to overflow with local character. Jancis Robinson, the FT’s revered wine critic, has crowned them some of the best still wines to come out of England: “Give me a choice of chilled canned wines and this is probably the one I'd reach for.”

Travellers on all short-haul British Airways flights “can now enjoy something truly local," Henry shares. "This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to introduce The Uncommon to a global audience."
 

A Journey Worth Celebrating 

Henry and the team’s dedication to producing exceptional, sustainable wine is something all Rugbeians can take pride in. As The Uncommon continues to grow, it’s clear their journey is just getting started. We’ll raise a can to that!

Find out more via the website and Instagram page.