Farmers first.
Wine growers by instinct.
Generations in the growing
At Crows Lane Estate, wine growing isn’t a side project - it’s a natural extension of a lifetime spent farming. Between us, we steward more than 1,800 acres of Essex farmland. We read the weather instinctively, understand how soil responds after a hard winter or a dry spring, and know that no two seasons, or slopes, ever behave the same. This knowledge wasn’t learned quickly; it’s been built over generations, one harvest at a time.
Rooted in Essex farmland
Our story begins with Simon’s family. They were suit makers - Hollington Brothers - who invested in land through the rag trade. Simon became the first generation to farm it himself. Trained at an agricultural college, he built his career across dairy, arable and sheep farming, developing a deeply practical understanding of land management long before the vines were planted.
On the other side of the River Crouch, in 1923, Debbie’s grandfather, Caleb Rayner, established their family farm. A pioneer in the area, as well as a successful farm, he built a reputation grounded in independence, resilience, and unwavering hard work. Caleb’s farm passed down to Debbie’s father and, in 2012, Debbie herself took ownership. She had studied agriculture at Cirencester and spent time outside farming, working in industry and gaining broader commercial perspective before returning to the land she knew best.
Where farming knowledge meets vineyard precision
The vineyard began, as many good farming decisions do, with observation. In 2018, neighbouring plantings demonstrated what the area could achieve. Simon looked at his own south-facing slopes, the heavy clay soils and the exposure, and thought, we could do that here. With guidance from consultant Duncan McNeill, eight acres of Pinot Noir were planted, using a range of clones selected specifically to suit the site.
The first harvest in 2020 confirmed what the land was capable of. One clone reached 106° Oechsle, producing a single barrel of Pinot Noir that went on to be poured at The Ritz - a decisive moment that gave us the confidence to think bigger.
Crows Lane Estate soon followed. Today, the vineyard spans 88 acres across carefully chosen south- and south-west-facing slopes: 60 acres of Pinot Noir, 23 acres of Chardonnay and five acres of Sauvignon Blanc. Planted over four years, all are rooted in heavy clay and farmed with precision, patience and restraint.
The estate remains a family operation. Simon and Debbie’s two children, Mikey and Millie, came on board early, having grown up on the farm. Mikey learned his trade hands-on, gaining experience across other farms and vineyards. He now runs his own vineyard contracting business, which services Crows Lane, while Duncan continues to advise, ensuring consistency and quality as the estate evolves. Millie also has a keen interest in the vineyard and plays an integral role in other areas of the family business.
The vines thrive because the land comes first.
Our ambition is simple but uncompromising: to be one of the country’s finest growers, producing consistently exceptional fruit year after year. We understand that great wine doesn’t begin in the winery - it begins in the soil, the weather and the decisions made out in the field.
We are farmers first. The vines simply follow our lead.
