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Kent winemaker Chapel Down beats City forecasts as sparkling wine sales jump 26% and shares fizz up 9%

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 24 September 2026.

Chapel Down's English sparkling wine, which now accounts for 74% of total wine sales, is driving a profit forecast at least 10% above the £3.7 million analysts had expected.
Chapel Down's English sparkling wine, which now accounts for 74% of total wine sales, is driving a profit forecast at least 10% above the £3.7 million analysts had expected.

Chapel Down Group, the Tenterden-based English winemaker, has upgraded its full-year earnings outlook after revenues surged 19% to £9.4 million in the first half of 2026, with the company now expecting adjusted EBITDA to beat the £3.7 million market forecast by at least 10%. Traditional method sparkling wine drove the gains, climbing 26% and accounting for 74% of all wine sales. International revenue jumped 66%, powered by strong demand from US drinkers. Shares leapt as high as 9% to 50p on the news.

CEO James Pennefather credited Millennials embracing English fizz beyond formal occasions, and warmer temperatures expanding what can be grown.

Pre-tax losses narrowed to £551,000 from £687,000, while gross margin improved to 49.6% from 46.1% on cheaper vintages and a richer sales mix.

Chapel Down also upsized its credit facility from £20 million to £25 million, with year-end net debt now forecast to fall short of the projected £16.2 million.

Moremarketscreener.comChapel Down Group Plc Reports Earnings Results for the Half Year Ended June 30, 2026 - marketscreener.comjust-drinks.com“We’re very optimistic”– Chapel Down CEO on H1 growth, outlook - Just Drinkstradingview.comUK's Chapel Down H1 revenue rises 19%, margins improvelse.co.ukIN BRIEF: Chapel Down says 2026 earnings to be ahead of market viewproactiveinvestors.co.ukChapel Down pops as fizz sales lift the outlookYahoo News UKChapel Down shares jump 9% as winemaker upgrades earnings outlookmarketscreener.comChapel Down says 2026 earnings to be ahead of market viewinsidermedia.comChapel Down hails strong first half - “positive tailwinds” for English sparkling wine including adoption by Millennialsukinvestormagazine.co.ukAIM movers: Tungsten West offtake agreement and Chapel Down increases revenues
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