Chapel Down, the English winemaker, has secured over £4.3 million in new equity funding to expand the business and help grow its reputation both at home and overseas.
The Kent-based company plans to use the money to increase the production of both its Gold medal-winning wines and beers: part of the monies raised will be deployed to significantly increase the planting of vines across Kent, Sussex and Essex to help meet an ever-growing demand for both its sparkling and still wines.
Additionally, the company will build a brewery for its Curious range of beers, which will also result in local job-creation. The search for an appropriate site in Kent is already well underway.
One of Europe’s most exciting drinks companies
Chapel Down, whose wines and beers are recognised as some of the best in the world, is becoming recognised as one of Europe’s most exciting drinks companies, with a reputation for English quality, style and originality.
The company already partners with some of the country’s best-loved chefs, including Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver, and supplies wines to many leading retailers, most notably Majestic, Morrison’s, Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
The Tenterden-based business has also started to export its wines and beer, selling to countries including Japan, Finland, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Canada and France.
Accolades and awards
International exports have been much-helped by the ever-growing list of accolades and trophies Chapel Down has won. The company consistently beats many other wines and beers from around the world with, historically, much bigger reputations.
Most recently Chapel Down picked up three gold medals and a prestigious ‘best in class’ trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards for its sparkling Blanc de Blanc 2007 (Trophy) and Rose Brut. It also won a remarkable gold for Chardonnay Reserve 2010.
Frazer Thompson, CEO of Chapel Down wines, says:
“We are about to start an exciting new phase in Chapel Down’s development. We now have a terrific brand and some huge opportunities.
“Just over a decade ago our industry and business was little more than a bit of a novelty. Today we are a prestigious, internationally recognised brand with world class credentials.
“This investment will allow us to continue to increase the supply for our award-winning brands to meet growing demand and further improve the quality and reach of both our wine and beer in the UK and Internationally.”
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