business link case study - polgoon vineyard

8/9/2019 Business Link Case Study - Polgoon Vineyard

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A sparkling future for award-winning Penzance vineyard

When River Cottage mastermind Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall calls you his “new

sweetheart”, you really know you’ve had an impact on the foodie world.

Kim and John Coulson, Polgoon Vineyard, Cornwall

Such was the experience of Kim and John Coulson, owners of the award-winning Polgoon

Vineyard on the outskirts of Penzance. For them Hugh’s commendation was a fabulous

vindication of all their hard work of the last few years, which they have successfully fitted

around raising a family of six children.



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As their vines mature to deliver the production levels required for a properly sustainable

company, Kim believes that with the help of Business Link’s Rural Service they are today in

the middle of the shift from “cottage industry to full-blown business”. She can also now look

back with some amusement at the moment that started the couple’s business

transformation from successful Newlyn-based fish-sellers to fulltime wine producers.

As she says, “It was 10 years ago, and we’d just bought a ruined farmhouse when we found

out that the previous owner was intending to sell the surrounding land and outbuildings to

create an industrial estate. That wasn’t what we wanted for our new home, and we

borrowed everything we could to buy the 23 acres, two barns and two cottages as well.”

Then the question was what they should do with the land. “When we had the idea ofplanting a vineyard, we knew we couldn’t afford everything necessary on our own. With the

fish business, getting a grant was simple – there was only one source of funding. Now it

was far more complicated, and we needed help to ensure we were applying in the right way

to the correct organisation.”

This was when the couple first came across Business Link’s specialist Rural Service,

designed to help land-based businesses across the south west fulfil their potential.

According to Kim, “Rural adviser Marilyn Pryor was just brilliant in helping us do exactly

what was needed to get the venture off the ground.”

But first they produced their first small vintage in 2006. As Kim remembers, “We didn’t have

the equipment we needed to make wine ourselves at the time, so it was bottled for us in

2007 by Camel Valley Wines at Bodmin. Each of our first three wines won awards from the

UK Vineyard Association, which picked our rosé as the best in Britain. It was a just fabulous

start.”

Sadly, though, that first vintage was too small for major commercial success, and it was

followed by another year when the grape harvest failed. Then John had a brilliant idea – to

fill the gap with a range of apple-based méthode Champenoise sparklers, which now

includes Aval (Cornish for apple), Aval Rosé and Peren (pear). These have all also won

national awards, and Aval Rosé is stocked by both River Cottage and Rick Stein among

many others. According to Kim, “These established a customer base for us to drop our

wines into once we had our first proper vintage.”



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Thanks to Marilyn’s help, they were able to get this venture off the ground through claiming

a Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) grant that helped pay for equipment

including a traditional apple press, juice bottling and label machines. Then they received a

further RDPE grant in 2008 covering 45% of the cost of their own wine-making equipment,

including a press, tanks and bottling line. So that year, despite another small harvest fromtheir still immature vines, they were able to manage the entire process from end-to-end and

feel that they had properly arrived as wine-makers.

With a better grape harvest in 2009, both Kim and John were able to go fulltime on the wine

business in the late summer, and now that all their vines are established they are looking

forward to even better times in 2010.

Kim admits that the transition from small enterprise to booming business is tough to handle:

“Moving rapidly from just 30 to over 300 customers is a big step,” she says.

Again, Business Link has been on hand to help, introducing them to a consultant who has

provided valuable insight on running a bigger business, and gaining help on writing a

business plan to define future physical changes to the site as the business grows.

Of course, though, the main focus in sill on the wine itself. As Kim says, “In some ways, this

is now our first full year. It’s a really exciting moment for us, and we can’t wait to see how

big the harvest will be this time.”

According to Business Link’s Marilyn Pryor, “This has to be one of the most fun and

satisfying businesses I’ve seen, and it been a real pleasure to see how Kim and John have

grown in confidence and skill as Polgoon has progressed. It’s a great example of the

Cornish spirit of adventure in action.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about Business Link’s Rural Service throughout Cornwall

and the South West should call 0845 600 9966 or visit

www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest/rural.

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http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest/rural





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All initial press enquiries should be addressed to:

Ron Dyson - 01308 485707; or David Wilford – 01672 564 529 / 07790 774 284

Issued on behalf of Business Link’s Rural Service by The Aurora Partnership

Notes to Editors:

Business Link’s Rural Business Support Services Delivered by a dedicated network of Project Officers, Advisers and approved independentconsultants, these comprise a range of support activities including:Independent and Impartial Business Advice – Business Link’s rural advisers will spend timewith businesses to review their current position and discuss proposals for developing thebusiness. They will work with the business as proposals develop finding appropriate support todeliver the help that is needed.Grant Funding and Brokerage – Business Link is the main access point to advice, information

and support through the RDPE in the South West. Applicants for funding can be put in touchwith professional support services to help develop firm proposals.R4F - Free professional advice on how best to manage on farm resources, such as energy,water, air and non-organic wastes (e.g. plastics), more efficiently.

business link case study - polgoon vineyard

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