Case Studies

We supported Charles Palmer Vineyards in bringing wine production home to East Sussex

Charles Palmer Vineyards is a family-run enterprise producing premium English sparkling wine from vineyards established in 2006.

Originally an arable and livestock farm, the family recognised an opportunity in the emerging UK viticulture industry, a sector still relatively uncharted at the time – and chose to diversify in order to reduce exposure to volatile commodity markets and secure a more sustainable future. As production grew and demand for their wines increased, the family identified the need to bring all winemaking operations on-site to improve efficiency, quality control, and long-term resilience.

Callum Preece of BTF Partnership acted as lead adviser, providing comprehensive planning and rural business advice to enable this transition. Callum secured a Certificate of Lawful Use to convert redundant livestock buildings into a fully operational winery and successfully obtained grant funding for the building conversion and installation of a new disgorging line. He also provided advice on agri-environment schemes, submitting and managing a Countryside Stewardship application to support sustainable land management on the farm.

With the new winery, Charles Palmer Vineyards can now expand annual production from 10,000 to an estimated 30,000 bottles within three years, improving efficiency, sustainability, and control over quality. The project strengthens the business’s independence and ensures long-term viability in an increasingly competitive sector.

“BTF’s strategic advice and practical support have been vital in helping us bring wine production home and secure the future of our family farm.” – The Palmer Family

Visitors can now experience the results of this success first-hand. The vineyard’s cellar door, overlooking the beautiful Brede Valley, offers tastings of their award-winning wines.

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