- Business
- Chapel Down Group Plc engages in the production and sale of premium English sparkling and still wines, along with select spirits and beers, primarily from vineyards in the chalky terroir of the North Downs in Kent, United Kingdom. The company offers an award-winning portfolio that includes traditional method sparkling wines such as Brut, Rosé, and Vintage cuvées made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier; still wines encompassing white varieties like Bacchus and Chardonnay, rosé wines, and blended selections including the Kit’s Coty range and Discovery series; super-premium spirits distilled from grape skins, notably Bacchus Gin, Chardonnay Vodka, and Brandy; as well as Curious beers and ciders. It operates through owned, leased, and sourced vineyards totaling over 750 acres in South East England, with additional plantings underway, and maintains a freehold winery in Tenterden, Kent, which doubles as a visitor destination attracting over 65,000 guests annually for tours, tastings, and experiences at its two AA Rosette Swan restaurant.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered at Chapel Down Winery, Smallhythe Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7NG, United Kingdom, Chapel Down Group Plc serves domestic markets via leading retailers including Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Majestic, Selfridges, and Harrods; on-trade channels with over 2,462 outlets featuring by-the-glass listings; direct-to-consumer e-commerce and Tenterden site sales; and exports to 14 international markets, with a strong global travel retail presence in 35 UK hubs. The company targets premium consumers, fine dining establishments, and luxury hospitality, positioning itself as England's leading wine producer and the only English wine company with a stock market listing on AIM.
In recent developments, Chapel Down announced in April 2025 a new distribution agreement with Jackson Family Wines for its sparkling portfolio in the United States, effective mid-Q2 2025, marking a key strategic push into its largest potential export market. The company completed a strategic review in 2024, opting to remain independent rather than pursue external partnerships or structures, while extending its revolving credit facility to £20 million (with accordion option to £30 million) and exiting its lower-margin spirits business. It scrapped plans for a £32 million winery near Canterbury in September 2025 due to planning delays and market shifts, alongside reporting H1 2025 net sales revenue growth of 11% to £7.9 million, driven by 14% wine sales increase, though posting a pretax loss amid higher-cost vintages and direct-to-consumer timing variances.