Last modified on Fri 4 Jun 2021 09.39 EDT
The English winemaker Chapel Down is asking the public to take part in a fresh funding round worth up to £7m that will help the business expand its vineyard in the North Downs and ramp up exports.
It is the Kent companyâs latest attempt to tap into investor enthusiasm for homegrown tipples as the democratisation of shareholding grows.
Chapel Down plans to use the money to scale up its wineries and finish planting grapevines on the North Downs, where its vineyards are expected to produce an extra 500,000 bottles of English sparkling wine a year. Some of the cash will also help develop its online sales portal and export business.
English wine maker Chapel Down shrugged off widespread closures in the off-trade to grow sales volumes 38% last year, but group results were hit by the weaker performance of its demerged beer and cider arm Curious Drinks.
Champagne is becoming old hat. So says Frazer Thompson, the boss of Chapel Down, England s largest sparkling wine producer, which is fast becoming a rival to the French fizz behemoths.