Posted Wednesday 4th March 2026
Joelson, the leading London law firm, has advised premium mid-strength wine brand Future Château on its pre-seed funding round.
The raise will support the launch of the company’s second vintage in Spring 2026, alongside continued product development and a refreshed brand identity, as consumer appetite for premium lower-alcohol wine continues to grow.
Founded by Tom Benn, formerly Head of Growth at Naked Wines, Future Château produces 5% ABV wines using traditional winemaking techniques and high-quality grapes, delivering the character and structure of classic wine with significantly reduced alcohol. Since launching in 2025, the brand has quickly gained traction among consumers seeking high-quality, lower-ABV alternatives.
The round attracted a prominent syndicate of investors from across the drinks, low-and-no and consumer brand sectors, reflecting strong confidence in both the category and the Future Château proposition.
Joelson advised Future Château throughout the fundraising process, which was delivered to a compressed timetable and involved multiple completions structured to qualify under the SEIS and EIS regimes. The transaction required careful sequencing to accommodate investor participation while ensuring compliance with the relevant tax relief requirements.
The new capital will fund the release of Future Château’s second vintage, including updated Reserve expressions, an enhanced Sparkling and a new Rosé, marking the next stage of the brand’s development.
Joelson’s team was led by Managing Partner, Phil Hails Smith, supported by Senior Associate, Chinedu Onuchukwu, and Solicitor, Georgia Edmondson.
Tom Benn, Founder of Future Château, commented:
“Joelson were a brilliant legal partner throughout the raise. They combined clear, commercial advice with real responsiveness, helping us navigate the complexities of the process and ultimately bring together an exceptional group of investors.”
Phil Hails-Smith, Managing Partner at Joelson, added:
“We’re delighted to have supported Tom and the Future Château team on this milestone raise. The fast-paced, multi-stage SEIS and EIS round came together brilliantly, marking a pivotal moment for the business. With fresh funding in place, the team is now perfectly positioned to shake up the category, expand their range and accelerate to the next level. We are very much looking forward to supporting Tom & Future Château on this next exciting phase of the journey.”
This article is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking or deciding not to take any action.
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