Not so long ago, British wine was something to be sniffed at. Something that was the butt of every French person's jokes. The Spanish would sneer at us and the Aussie's would rather drink warm beer than sip an English Merlot.
But, in true British style, the English persevered with their mission to bring sustainable and note-worthy vineyards to our shores. The result has been an unprecedented boom in the English wine industry.
So grab a tipple, some cheese and crackers, and let's take a guided tour of the Hampshire wines we can celebrate this English Wine Week.
We start off strong, on the banks of the River Test, where a beautiful sprawling estate is home to some of England's finest wines. Led by a passionate team, Black Chalk opens its doors to the fine art of English winemaking and boasts some truly delicious results. Their flagship wines are their sparkling variety: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. In 2020 they released their first still wine, a Rosé, and in 2022 a Chardonnay.
Fancy joining us on a Vineyard Tour, Wine Tasting and Cheese at Black Chalk?
This exciting winery (that also triples as a brewery and cidery) was established by Swiss oenologist Guillaume. The Wharie doesn't use pesticides on their vines and Guillaume's passion for wine, as well as beer, cider and mead, is evident in his meticulous care of his vineyard and the quality of their wines. They share all the fascinating behind-the-scenes of their journey over on their Facebook page.
Make your own wine at The Wharie Experience.
One of the leading wineries in the UK, Hattingley is well renowned in Hampshire for their range of sparkling wines. Their vineyard was planted in 2008 by the Robinson family and have built an impressive team around them, including Emma Rice - the rockstar of the wine world!
Visit Hattingley for a Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting.
Established in 1952, Hambledon is England's oldest vineyard. Over the years, Hambledon has adopted innovative ideas, technology, and processes to develop their delicious sparkling wine.
Explore Hambledon with their vineyard tour and wine tasting Experience.
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