Vineyards – managing the tax relief on the start-up

The rapid successful growth of the English sparkling wine industry has presented tantalising opportunities for farmers in the possibly lucrative world of vineyards. But with this investment comes a large number of tax cashflow and legal alternatives that must all be considered.

English ‘champagne’ and tax planning

English wine has enjoyed a renaissance with numerous vineyards being planted in recent years. Sparkling wine (English champagne) has proved very fashionable especially along the south coast. This is due to its favourable geology and a warming climate that has made grape growing much more feasible in most of southern England.

The number of wineries has increased markedly but as demand for English wine apparently still outstrips supply they are seeking to secure a steady supply of grapes which opens a unique opportunity for farmers to cultivate vineyards on their land. While such collaborations can...