Billionaire Mark Dixon opens ‘new frontier’ in English wine

Serviced offices billionaire Mark Dixon is hoping to open a “new frontier” in English wine after buying his first vineyard in the country.

The veteran entrepreneur has bought the 150-acre Kingscote Estate in East Grinstead, West Sussex, which produces still and sparkling wines and cider.

Dixon, who originally got into the wine business “by accident”, is also looking at buying more sites in the wake of this deal, which he clinched earlier this year for an undisclosed amount.

He told the Standard the south of England could be a “new frontier for wine”.

Dixon first set up the temporary-offices business Regus — now known as IWG — nearly 30 years ago and still owns a 28% stake in the £3.3 billion firm.

He moved into wine nine years ago, buying the Château De Berne estate — which includes a five-star hotel and a Michelin-starred restaurant — in Provence.

The French business, produces about five million bottles a year and has sales of more than €40 million (£35 million), making it the region’s second-biggest producer of rosé.

Dixon is not the only wealthy businessman with an interest in English wine.

Tory peer Lord Ashcroft is a majority shareholder in wine-maker Gusbourne, which has 231 acres of vineyards in Kent and West Sussex.