Chapel Down has reported 11% net sales growth for the first half of 2025, driven by strong demand for its sparkling wine portfolio.

CEO James Pennefather said the UK’s largest winemaker entered 2025 with “strong momentum,” and continues to benefit from record-high brand awareness and growing consumer interest in English wine.

The business now has over 1,000 acres of vines under its belt, and remains the market leader in English Sparkling Wine, holding a 35% off-trade share, according to Nielsen.

Most successful was its Traditional Method sparkling wines, which grew 15%, outperforming the broader English sparkling category (+10%).

Looking ahead, chief executive reshared the English winemaker long-term ambitions to “win an equivalent 1% share of the global Champagne market by 2035”.

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He added: “We [will] continue to invest for future growth and can see significant future potential both within the UK and in key export markets.

“Chapel Down’s brand awareness is now at an all time high and the brand is well positioned to benefit from the positive consumer engagement we are seeing within the category.”

Meanwhile, the winemaker also revealed its chair Martin Glenn has stepped down, after five years in the role, and is set to be replaced by Michael Spencer from September 2025.

Alongside the new chair, former Britvic CEO Simon Litherland is to join the board as an independent non-executive director from August.

“Chapel Down has a strong market position in an emerging sparkling wine category and has an exciting future ahead,” said Litherland.

“I am delighted to be joining the board and very much look forward to working with the team to help create the next phase of growth.”

The winemaker’s successful performance comes less than a year its then current chief executive Andrew Carter resigned as the business revealed its half-year profit had plunged 22%.

Earlier this year, Chapel Down poached Typhoo Tea CEO Lourens (Louan) Mouton as its new chief finance officer, as the company looked to ramp up its development and growth.