(Decanter) - Jane Anson looks at recent comments by Wetherspoon owner Tim Martin as the two-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum approaches, and concludes that his words will do little to soothe wine producers' nerves across the English Channel. 

It’s approaching two years to the day since the EU Referendum in the UK, and this Saturday June 23rd will see the biggest march in London since 2016, asking for a ‘people’s vote’ on the terms of whatever deal is agreed between the EU and the UK.

It’s no surprise where I stand on this, as a British person living in Europe (Lord Lawson perhaps being the exception that proves the rule) and luckily writing about wine does its own job of proving the benefits of open borders and cultural exchange. But every now and then one of the Brexiteers claims something so outlandish, and that so directly impacts the wine industry, that it’s impossible not to comment.

You will have read, I am sure, about Wetherspoon owner Tim Martin and his plan to stop serving Champagne at his 800 pubs as of July 9th 2018.  He will instead focus on English sparking wine as well as those from Australia and New Zealand – basically sourced from outside of the EU.