Expanding vineyard near Wolverhampton seeks extension
Vineyard is seeking permission for third barn
A vineyard in a village near Wolverhampton wants to build a new barn to cope with growing demand.
Martin Wilcox of Pattingham Vineyard in Great Moor Road has applied to South Staffordshire Council for prior permission to build a third agricultural storage barn.
The family acquired the 12-acre site in 2016, reaping its first harvest in 2021.
Ryan Taylor, acting on behalf of the vineyard, said the application was a response to the continued growth of the business.
The proposed building would act as a bonded bottle store and agricultural storage barn, housing bottled wine, storage cages, bottling equipment and associated farm machinery.
He said the business was now maintained about 20,000 vines, and produced about 50,000 bottles of English wine a year, including both still and sparkling wines.
“The proposal responds directly to the continued growth, maturation and operational needs of the established vineyard and wine-making enterprise,” he said.
“The business now operates year-round and requires permanent on-site infrastructure to support harvesting, processing, storage, bottling and ageing.”
He said the vineyard operated 12 stainless steel wine tanks were filled following harvest and remained in use for approximately three months before bottling, a cycle that took place on an annual basis.
“Sparkling wine requires bottle ageing for approximately two years,” said Mr Taylor.
“As a result, the vineyard will always retain between 100,000 and 150,000 bottles on site at any one time, either ageing, in process or ready for sale.”
He said wine was stored in steel bottle cages, holding approximately 500 bottles each.
“Approximately 300 cages are required to support current and forecast production, necessitating a dedicated bonded bottle store,” he added.
Mr Taylor said a present lack of storage meant that equipment was at present stored on the driveway of the site and within temporary tents.
“This is inefficient, visually harmful and risks damage to high-value agricultural equipment,” he said.
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