Planning and Establishing a Wine Business

Course overview

Could your land produce exceptional wine?

English wines are now winning recognition on the international stage, and a
growing number of landowners are exploring whether a vineyard could offer a
rewarding future for their land. Planning and Establishing a Wine Business gives
you the knowledge and practical insight to answer that question with
confidence.

Delivered in collaboration with Knight Frank and NFU Mutual, this two-day course brings
together expertise from the wine, land, property and rural business sectors. It
is designed for landowners, aspiring vineyard owners and rural entrepreneurs who
are seriously considering planting a vineyard or establishing a wine business.
No previous wine industry experience is required.

You’ll begin with the land itself, learning how to evaluate a potential
vineyard site by considering climate, aspect, soil and other environmental
factors. You’ll also discover how these characteristics shape your choice of
grape variety and rootstock, and the styles of wine your site could produce.

Classroom sessions are combined with visits to working vineyards and the
Plumpton College winery, where you’ll see successful operations first-hand.
You’ll assess real sites, design your own planting scheme and gain a clear
understanding of what it takes to establish and manage a young vineyard,
learning throughout from experienced industry professionals.

The course then turns to the business of wine, covering winery design,
contract winemaking, storage, branding, routes to market and wine tourism.
Through practical activities, you’ll start developing a high-level plan for your
own wine business, including potential products, target markets and
opportunities for growth. We’ll also take you through the essential legal,
regulatory, insurance, risk-management, employment and resourcing
considerations, so there are no surprises down the line.

The experience extends beyond the classroom. On Friday evening, you’ll join
industry experts and wine sector leaders for dinner at Plumpton College, with
guest speakers from vineyards and wine tastings offering the chance to explore
different wines and hear first-hand from those working in the industry.

Places are deliberately limited, so you’ll have valuable access to experts
and the opportunity to discuss your own ideas and plans one-to-one.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a realistic understanding of the
opportunities and challenges ahead, and the confidence to make an informed
decision about planting your vineyard.

Course details

Dates: 9am Friday 23 April to Saturday 24 April 2027, including a
Friday evening session
Location: Plumpton College
Cost:
£400, including lunches and Friday dinner

Graduates will be eligible for discounts on further Plumpton wine
courses.

Modules

You will study:

• Site Selection
• Wine styles to market
• Vineyard planting
• First year of vineyard establishment
• Winery design
• Contract winemaking
• Brand building and routes to market
• Risk management
• Regulatory requirements
• Resourcing your wine business
• Building a business plan

How will I be assessed?

The course concludes with a short multiple-choice quiz, giving you the chance to consolidate your learning and confirm your understanding of the key topics covered.

Progression routes