Overview: Calancombe Estate has evolved from an initial holiday cottage project in South Devon into a significant producer of wine, cider, and spirits. Founders Lance and Caroline Whitehead developed the business through self-funding and strategic partnerships, securing recognition for their English wines and Dartmouth English Gin.
The Full Story
Lance and Caroline Whitehead originally sought a new home in the West Country to escape the commuter belt. The search led them to Modbury, where they discovered a property featuring a tiny old stone cottage and three restored barns converted into a six-bedroom holiday property. While initially viewing the location as an escape from working lives near London, the couple purchased the site with the intention of potentially moving permanently.
The transition from residential acquisition to agricultural production began when Caroline, a passionate wine enthusiast with a collection of over 2,000 bottles, identified potential for viticulture. The founders partnered with Duncan Schwab of Sharpham Winery near Totnes for initial wine production while growing grapes on-site. Upon arrival, the estate planted its first two vineyards and established a cider-apple orchard. About two years after the initial acquisition, the owners of the remaining half of the original farm offered to sell it to the Whiteheads.
Purchasing the second half doubled the estate from roughly 30 acres to 60 acres, significantly expanding operational possibilities. The founders planted three additional vineyards, eventually reaching around 23,000 vines, and expanded orchards to approximately 1,600 traditional cider-apple trees. The initial plan was incremental; there was never a moment when the couple sat down to build a vineyard, winery, distillery, and visitor destination simultaneously. One decision simply led to another, resulting in the creation of Calancombe Estate.
The development faced regulatory challenges during the lockdown period. Neighboring farm owners objected to the premises licence application, arguing that alcohol production threatened their lifestyle. Although objections were deemed not relevant under the terms of the Licensing Act, the council initially questioned whether winemaking could take place in an agricultural building. A four-month battle ensued until legal opinions from WineGB and a Sussex vineyard owner confirmed that winemaking was permissible.
Production & Profile
The estate’s production capabilities expanded significantly after obtaining permission for the agricultural building, which was openly described as “The Winery Building.” The founders obtained a still from Müller, a fifth-generation family still-maker in Germany’s Black Forest, around 2017. This equipment facilitated the development of Dartmouth English Gin, with Olivier Ward of Gin Foundry serving as a mentor for botanical mix development.
Production quality remains non-negotiable at Calancombe Estate. The winery has substantially more capacity than the estate’s own vineyards require, creating an opportunity for third-party winemaking. For the gin production, final bottling was undertaken by a third party, though the spirit was diluted using water from Calancombe Estate because the water is considered an important part of the finished product. The estate also maintains a herd of Red Devon and Belted Galloway cattle and Greyface Dartmoor sheep before concentrating on grapes, apples, and other fruit as vineyard expansion outpaced winter feed production.
Brand & Industry History
The business was funded entirely by the founders without borrowing money or bringing in outside equity investors for the first 14 years. Caroline Whitehead funded the majority of wine-side investment, while Lance Whitehead concentrated on orchards and distillery development. Both founders continued working throughout the estate’s development; Caroline is a lawyer, and Lance works principally in private equity and capital raising.
The commercial trajectory shifted after winning the Craft Distilling Expo Gin of the Year award in 2018 with one of the very first batches of Dartmouth English Gin. In 2020, the gin became the Craft Gin Club’s Gin of the Month, distributed to nearly 60,000 members. This production run helped fund the construction of the visitor centre. On the wine side, Calancombe was announced as Small Visitor Attraction of the Year for Devon in a regional tourism awards process, finishing third across the Southwest at the Eden Project.
What This Means
The estate has reached an inflection point where the capital-intensive establishment phase is largely behind. The challenge now involves making the assets created work much harder commercially. The winery’s excess capacity allows for contract winemaking, while several beautiful locations on the Estate could be used for weddings and events. The business strategy focuses on unlocking the commercial potential of what has already been built rather than continuing to build new infrastructure.
Marketing and distribution remain a primary focus for growth. Lance Whitehead notes that with greater focus and more drinks-industry expertise, the estate could do considerably better in sales. The estate is considering outside equity investment for the first time after 14 years of self-funding. The three-to-five-year strategy involves making much better commercial use of existing assets, including professionalizing sales and using the Estate for weddings, events, courses, and experiences.
Consumer Takeaway
Calancombe Estate offers a product defined by provenance and quality control. The wines are made exclusively from grapes grown in the estate’s own vineyards, with no purchase of external grapes to increase production. The distillery produces Dartmouth English Gin using water sourced directly from the Calancombe Estate. For consumers seeking English spirits and wine, the estate provides an integrated experience where the visitor centre allows people to walk through the vineyards, see where the products are made, and taste the wines and spirits before purchasing.
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