Charlotte and Jonathan Sharpe
Charlotte and Jonathan have lived at Ketches since 2007. Charlotte is a psychodynamic therapist, while Jonathan has spent his entire career in finance. Planting a vineyard at Ketches marks an exciting new chapter in their lives as they step into the world of viticulture and winemaking.
Their vision is to produce hand‑crafted, premium wines from their beautiful site in Newick—wines that reflect the character of the land and are enjoyed both by the local community and further afield.
From the very beginning, and working closely with their vineyard manager, Charles, the focus has been on investing in the production of exceptional fruit. Guided by the belief that great wine can only be made from great grapes, every decision in the vineyard is made with quality as the priority.
They are equally committed to managing Ketches as a sustainable and regenerative vineyard, with deep respect for the wider environment and a long‑term view of caring for the land for generations to come. Above all, Charlotte and Jonathan hope the vineyard will be appreciated as a shared community resource—one that helps share the wines and spirit of Newick far and wide.
Charles: Vineyard Manager
Despite growing up in English wine country in the South East, and spending his summers at his family’s home near the world‑class vineyards of Bordeaux, it wasn’t until his university years in Australia that Charles truly discovered his passion for viticulture. It was there that he became driven by the idea of growing grapes that hold up a mirror to the place and people from which they come.
On returning to the UK, Charles worked with several of the country’s leading wine producers before going on to develop and manage the UK’s first and only viticulture‑specific apprenticeship programme at Plumpton College. Alongside this, his role on the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain Viticulture Advisory Committee, together with his involvement in cutting‑edge research projects, has positioned him at the forefront of the UK’s evolving wine landscape.
These experiences, combined with a drive to produce truly world‑class wines, ultimately led Charles to join Newick Wine Estate. Here, he continues to pursue his goal of crafting single‑estate wines that authentically capture the spirit of the place in which they are grown.
Linus: Vineyard Apprentice
Linus is our vineyard apprentice where he is developing his skills and knowledge across all areas of vineyard management. Before joining Newick Wine Estate, Linus spent three seasons at a leading English wine producer where his passion for viticulture grew.
Originally trained in Audio Technology, Linus brings a practical mindset and an eye for detail to his work. He has an interest in sustainable vineyard management and how this can enhance the health of the vineyard and reflect the unique character of Newick Wine Estate growing conditions.
Linus found Newick Wine Estate to be an ambitious and forward looking wine estate and felt it was the perfect match to begin his career in vineyard management, with the goal of contributing to the ongoing growth of excellent English wine.