Timeline Examples
Alistair first works in vineyards while backpacking in New Zealand and Australia. Picking grapes in New Zealand, planting a vineyard near Margaret River in Western Australia and dealing with hail-damaged grapes for raisins to fund his travels - little did he know that vines and wine would become a lifelong passion.
After several years in office-based roles in the UK, Alistair’s passion for wine – first sparked Down Under - leads him to retrain as a winemaker.
Balancing work, family, vintages, lecturing, and study, he spends a decade earning a First-Class BSc in Viticulture & Oenology (top student!) an MRes in Wine Science (Distinction), and a PhD in Climate Change & Viticulture.
Under the expert guidance of Prof. Steve Dorling at University of East Anglia, he not only completes his PhD but also develops the business idea that followed…
During his PhD years, Alistair had published and presented research on climate change and wine, including a land and climate suitability model (which now underpins our well-known VineMAP product) identifying some of the UK's most promising vineyard locations.
Now, growing demand from vineyard owners seeking expansion opportunities and greater climate resilience leads him to found Vinescapes, combining climate science and viticulture expertise to help clients grow premium grapes with nature, innovation and passion.
Behind every successful business is a strong operational and financial backbone. For Vinescapes, this comes from Paula, Alistair’s wife, who joins the company as Business and Financial Director, bringing with her many years of corporate and financial sector experience.
Paula quickly becomes pivotal in building the systems, processes and culture that enable Vinescapes to grow and deliver consistently exceptional professional services.
As Vinescapes evolves, we expand from climate risk consultancy into a full-service viticulture and winery consultancy.
Our expertise grows to encompass vineyard site assessment, variety, clone and rootstock selection, soil analysis, vineyard design, frost protection, winery planning, and vineyard establishment.
Despite being a small team, our specialist knowledge attracts clients far beyond the UK, with projects spanning China, Georgia, Spain and Bordeaux and Cognac in France.
Work with Chateau Cheval Blanc, Palmer, Beauregard, Giscours, Du Tetre, Rauzan-Ségla and Hennessey in France ensues and we establish our first dedicated office in Dorking, creating a permanent home for the business and a hub for our expanding global reach.
One key element is still missing from the Vinescapes’ offering: Specialist vineyard management expertise. This changes when Joel Jorgensen joins the business in 2021.
Raised on an organic vineyard in South Africa, Joel has spent his career caring for vines through regenerative and sustainable practices. His extensive experience leading vineyard teams, managing vineyard operations and delivering contracting services across South Africa and the UK brings a depth of practical expertise that perfectly complements our consultancy strengths.
Sharing our values and long-term vision, Joel has become an integral part of the Vinescapes story. He is instrumental in developing our Vineyard Management and Viticulture Services offering and continues to play a major role in shaping the company.
Stephen Cronk, owner of Domaine Mirabeau in Provence, approaches Alistair to discuss a shared ambition: Accelerating the adoption of regenerative viticulture across the global wine industry.
And so, The Regenerative Viticulture Foundation (RVF), an international charity dedicated to advancing regenerative practices in vineyards worldwide, is born, with Alistair as a founding trustee.
Alistair contributes to a major interdisciplinary study that uses the latest climate projections and modelling to assess how climate change is likely to affect the wine sector.
The work provides evidence to support better decision-making, investment, and adaptation strategies. The project brings together climatologists, wine industry specialists and social scientists from the Grantham Research Institute and the University of East Anglia. Its findings are widely disseminated, including presentations at the 2022 Cool Climate Wine Symposium in Toronto and publications in Climate Risk Management and OENO One
In 2023, the CEO of Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) invites us to establish a new Research and Development Group to help define the UK wine sector’s research priorities and strengthen its access to research funding.
Collaborating with leading researchers and industry representatives, we conduct workshops across WineGB’s regional associations to gather insights from growers and producers. This work culminates in the development of a sector-wide research strategy designed to support innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth across the industry.
Since launching its Vineyard Management and Viticulture Services in 2021, Vinescapes continues to attract an exceptional line up of viticulturists and winemakers to its team. Much of the work takes place in vineyards and wineries with clients across the UK and further afield, but as the team grows, so does the need for a place to come together.
In 2024, we move into a larger office in Dorking, creating a dedicated home for collaboration, training, planning and day-to-day operations. More than just an office, it provides a hub where our team can connect, share ideas, and continue building the culture that underpins our ongoing success.
Today, Vinescapes is a highly skilled team of viticulturists, winemakers and researchers working alongside more than 100 clients to deliver tailored solutions that support successful, resilient wine businesses.
Recent projects in India and Scandinavia have reinforced our international reach and grapes we’ve grown continue to contribute to award-winning wines. It’s a testament to the quality of our work and our belief that regeneration and resilience go hand in hand.
As the wine industry continues to evolve, we remain dedicated to shaping its future—providing trusted expertise, nurturing talent and helping to create thriving vineyards, exceptional wines, and resilient businesses for generations to come.