£2m investment puts extra fizz into Bolney Wine Estates

Sussex vineyard Bolney Wine Estates, whose award-winning wine is served at Wimbledon and to British Airways trans-Atlantic first class passengers, is set to receive a £2m investment to fund further growth.

The funding, which will come largely from an anonymous private investor with a second phase from crowd-funding, was arranged with the help of EMC Corporate Finance.

The capital injection will be used to fund the construction of a new state-of-the-art winery and a major drive into the US, Scandinavian and Asian markets.

The family-owned business, founded in 1972, will produce 160,000 bottles this year. The new investment will enable it to boost production to 300,000 bottles by 2020.

Managing Director and master wine maker Sam Linter, who has recently been in New York overseeing the company’s launch into the US, said the investment demonstrated a growing confidence in English wine generally and the Sussex vineyard’s premium still and sparkling wine portfolio in particular.

She added: “We feel this is a huge opportunity in this large market and relish the chance to make English wines very well-known in a country that embraces the craft drinks revolution.”

Bolney Wine Estates has sold its wines through Waitrose for 16 years, and in partnership with Bibendum, supplies Marks & Spencer as well as Wimbledon and British Airways for flights to and from the US.

EMC Corporate Finance provided corporate finance advice to Bolney Wines Estates with ASB Law contributing legal advice and Carpenter Box accountancy advice. Penningtons were the legal advisors to the private investor.