Whether Julius Caesar really was responsible for bringing wine to England may always be a moot point, but what is indisputable is the rise in popularity of English wines over the past few years. The only wine other than Champagne to win the 'Decanter World Wine Award for Overall Best Sparkling Wine' hails from these shores, while the French Champagne house, Taittinger, has announced it will be producing sparkling wine in Kent.

Needless to say, producing award-winning wine in this country is not easy. For those who aspire to doing just that, here are some basic points to consider:

• Is this going to be a hobby or a viable business? The answer will determine what type of property you should be looking for. Do not underestimate the amount of work involved.
• Will you buy a going concern or do you want to establish a vineyard or winery from scratch? There are advantages and disadvantages either way. In particular, establishing vines requires a lot of working capital until the first wine is sold some five years later – sometimes more.
• Create a checklist of all the factors you need to take into consideration, including the orientation of land to sun, degree of shelter, soil suitability, drainage, varieties planted and room for expansion. Poor site suitability/site selection is one of the main reasons vineyard businesses fail.
• Do your sums. If this is to be a commercial enterprise, is it possible to make the level of net profit you need to sustain the business and, more importantly, will it be possible to make a living from it? If a hobby, how much are you prepared to invest to enjoy fulfilling the dream?
• Will you need to employ anyone? This may range from help picking the grapes to administration, HR, marketing and sales.
• If you do take on staff, make sure you have the time and resources to get the right training or employ the right people. One mistake can cost you a year of grape harvest or turn a great potential wine into a disaster.
• Have you the skills, energy, resolve and time to dedicate to the enterprise? As with all agricultural activities, it is subject to variations in weather and markets.
• How will you sell your wine? Maximising the value of your wine is vital to success.
• Where will you live? Many vineyards have a property on or near the site. Prioritise whether the location of the vineyard or the house is more important to you, before making any decisions.

Growing grapes and making wine can be highly profitable, rewarding and enjoyable, but it must be planned on a sound business case – even if it's only a hobby.