Award-winning Lincolnshire vineyard goes up for sale

Entrepreneurs looking to put down roots in the wine industry may not have expected to find a unique opportunity in none other than sunny Lincolnshire.

The award winning Somerby Vineyard and Winery on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds has become available through Savills Lincoln at a guide price of £800,000.

Set in approximately 12.5 acres, it is a fully functional, established winery consisting of around 9,000 vines made up of a mixture of Pinot Noir, Solaris and Rondo varieties. It has the capacity for a further 3,000 Pinot Noir vines.

The current owners have developed wines which have won numerous awards over recent years including Gold and best small producer at the 2014 UKVA awards and more recently, Bronze at the International Wine Challenge 2018.

Bill Hobson, owner of Somerby Vineyards has taken the decision to sell after planting the first vines over a decade ago. He says: “Having enjoyed 12 years building an award winning vineyard I have decided that the time has come to retire and pass the baton to the next generation of English winemakers, who I hope will get as much enjoyment out of it as I have.”

Made up of Grade 3 soils recorded in the Soil Survey of England and Wales as being of the Upton 1 series, these soil types are described as shallow, well drained silty over chalk.

Sam Thomas, farm agent at Savills Lincoln, who is marketing the vineyard, added: “Located on the northern edge of the north Lincolnshire Wolds, the vineyard and winery is the only award winning English winery in the midlands and north, thanks largely to its chalk terrain which is most prominent in Kent and certainly a rarity further north.

“Producing on average 26,000 bottles of white and red wine each year which are stocked in Waitrose stores, the vineyard has also recently started production of its own brand cider and has plans to create a sparkling wine range as the local soil types are ideally suited. The majority of the existing vines are around 10 years old giving them another 60 to 70 years of quality cropping left and grape yields reached two tonnes per acre in 2018 matching UK average yields. Its position offers far reaching, unspoilt views across the Lincolnshire Wolds with the landmark Lincoln Cathedral visible on a clear day.”

The winery has a capacity to vinify 20,000 litres with room to expand to around 150,000 litres if required.

To arrange a viewing, contact Sam Thomas at Savills Lincoln on 01522 507 315 .