In 2004 he decided to put all of his skills to work and set about transforming his mother's venture into a more commercial operation.
By 2005 Oaken Grove Vineyard produced its first significant quantity of a dry white wine.
Getting more confident in his craft, Phil then went on to create a rosé, Benham Blush, and entered both wines in the English & Welsh Wine of the Year competition.
To his astonishment, Benham Blush 2010 was awarded a gold medal and a trophy and the 2009 vintage got the bronze.
Phil has managed to achieve all this while at the same time working for John Lewis.
He says that the support of his John Lewis and Waitrose colleagues has been invaluable.
The Partners who come every year to help with summer pruning and the October harvest and the teams he has worked with over the years have all been incremental to his success.