Former dentists launch wine-making business

A husband-and-wife team has given up their dentistry practice to start a sustainable wine-making business at their family home in Worcestershire.

Judith and Tim Davies have launched Chapel House Vineyard at their home in the hamlet of Broadwas, building on a hobby they started 15 years ago and tapping into the continued popularity of English sparkling wine and demand for responsibly-made tipples.

Every one of the 3,000 vines planted at the two-and-a-half acre vineyard nestled in the Teme Valley is unsprayed with harmful chemicals, and each grape is hand-picked by Judith and Tim themselves, with no heavy farm machinery used in the cultivation process. Any electricity used in the growing process is generated by solar panels on the roof of Chapel House.

Once collected, the bunches of Seyval and Phoenix grapes are loaded up and taken to Three Choirs Vineyard, just 21 miles away over the Malvern Hills, to be turned into wine.

Instead of glossy packaging, Chapel House wine makes its final journey to be enjoyed by wine lovers boxed up in recyclable cardboard cartons, only to locations within the UK.

With the number of vegans in Britain quadrupling between 2014 and 2018, the wine is suitable for vegans, with no egg whites or animal by-products used in the fining process.

Judith said they decided to expand the vineyard as a fully-fledged business venture after producing small amounts of wine for friends and family over the years.

“We had a small area of hillside and had attempted to keep pet sheep and goats, but it wasn’t for us,” said Judith,” a former dental hygienist who worked alongside dentist Tim for 30 years.

“Instead, we decided to have a go at planting vines. We knew it might be arduous as the hillside was so steep and we’d have to cultivate the vines by hand, but went for it. We planted 400 vines and many a bottle of wine made with our grapes has been enjoyed over dinner since.

“When we reached retirement, we absolutely didn’t want to spend our time twiddling our thumbs and decided to turn it into a full-time venture. We have planted thousands of new vines over the other side of the hill, so people can enjoy what we produce as much as we do.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but also very exciting.”