Ridgeview founders Chris and Mike Roberts had an entrepreneurial streak from the beginning. Chris and a friend ran a pioneering day nursery for working families in the 1970's and in 1980's Mike, seeing a huge potential in computers, quit his Financial Directorship and opened a small shop in Burgess Hill.

Over a decade later his little shop was the largest IBM dealerships in the South East, and by the mid 1990's the family were ready for another challenge. They sold the business and began their search for an ideal site to grow vines and Ditchling in Sussex became the home of Ridgeview Wine Estate.

Although initially Ridgeview was conceived of as a small family business, nothing was done on a whim.

The decision to start making wine was a very calculated risk with long term business plans from day one.

The Roberts family knew the business had to be sustainable for the future generation else the risk would not have been taken.

Ridgeview's immediate success showed the winery's potential and the original concept of a small venture was challenged. Soon the whole family were involved in the business and in 2011, Mike was awarded an MBE for his services to English wine.

When he passed away last year, the second generation of the Roberts family were already well ensconced in the business.

Son Simon has been winemaker for 15 years, daughter Tamara is the CEO, daughter in law Mardi manages sales and marketing and son in law Simon is technical manager.

Steady growth has continued from 20,000 bottles in the beginning to 250,000 today with the family planning to grow the business to 600,000 bottles over the next 5 years.