English wine producer Chapel Down is hoping for a sporting boost as it aims to become a more ‘premium’ brand
English winemaker Chapel Down is aiming to be a more “premium” brand after record sales last year.
The Kent company sold 790,000 bottles of ‘traditional method’ sparkling wine in 2022, up from 522,000 in 2021.
Revenue from this branch jumped 53% to £9.6million and offset a 45% reduction in still wine bottle sales to 435,000 after a poor harvest.
British fizz: Chapel Down, which sponsored the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (pictured), sold 790,000 bottles of ‘traditional method’ sparkling wine in 2022, up from 522,000 in 2021
Chapel Down is focusing on higher priced sparkling wine as it tries to become a more upmarket brand.
Links to events such as the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (pictured), Ascot and English cricket have boosted brand awareness and sales.
Chapel Down boss Andrew Carter said he hoped this summer’s Ashes cricket series, as England take on Australia, would strengthen the mark. He also creates a vintage sparkling wine for the coronation of King Charles.
Overall revenue rose 10% to £15.6million while profit jumped 51% to £1.7million.
Carter said the 2022 harvest was “excellent” and will produce more than 2 million bottles this year. He plans to double the size of the company by 2026.
