Future Château, the premium mid-strength wine brand, has raised £0.7m in pre-seed funding as demand for lower-ABV wine continues to surge. The investment reflects growing industry confidence in the lower ABV wine category and will support product innovation, a refreshed brand identity, and the launch of the brand’s second vintage in Spring 2026.
Tom Benn, former head of growth at Naked Wines and brand-builder at Pip & Nut, Freja and Milliways launched Future Château in 2025. Crafted from premium grapes using traditional winemaking techniques, the wines deliver the aroma, mouthfeel, and structure of a classic bottle – but with two-thirds less alcohol.
The funding round was backed by a high-profile syndicate of investors across alcohol, low-and-no, branding, and culture, signalling strong industry confidence. Key backers include Shilen Patel, founder of Diageo Ventures, ex-chairman of Seedlip and current chairman of Lucky Saint and MOTH; Benet Slay, ex-CEO of Carlsberg, ex-MD of Diageo and ex-Director at Seedlip; Richard Singh, founder of Wax Clothing and early significant investor in Lucky Saint, Pentire, and MOTH; Anotherway Ventures, the sister fund to brand studio Otherway who created brands including Lucky Saint and MOTH; Charlie Bowes-Lyon, co-founder of Wild Deodorant; Will Greenwood, Rugby World Cup winner and TV personality; and Jamie Morton, writer, producer, and star of My Dad Wrote a Porno. Future Château were advised by Joelson, the leading London law firm.
The investment will enable Future Château’s second vintage, currently in production, which will include a significantly improved Reserve Blanc and Reserve Rouge, an enhanced Sparkling, and a brand-new Rosé. The range will launch under a refreshed brand identity, developed with Otherway Studio, the agency behind Lucky Saint and MOTH.
Benn said: “The level of excitement we’ve seen from genuine legends of both the drinks industry and the low-and-no space has been incredibly validating. It shows that the people closest to society’s changing relationship with alcohol don’t believe the answer lies at the extremes – but in something a bit lower in alcohol, while genuinely delicious enough to appeal to all wine drinkers.” He added: “Future Château isn’t about moderation. It’s about the luxury of enjoying the things you want without the consequences you’ve come to expect – that have-your-cake-and-eat-it feeling we associate with the super rich, made accessible to everyone.”
Future Château’s second vintage marks the next phase of growth, as demand for premium, lower-alcohol wine rises across on- and off-trade channels.
