At Hambledon Wine Estate, no two days are the same. With changing seasons and diverse roles, on any given day, our team can be found doing all manner of things, from cleaning stainless steel tanks, to leaf stripping in the vineyard, to overseeing collections and deliveries, to welcoming guests to our Cellar Door and Restaurant. In fact, there’s no real standard day for us, but here’s a glimpse into what a day in the life at Hambledon is usually like!
7:30–8:00am — Grounds & Vineyard Teams Arrive
Our day begins early for the grounds management and vineyard teams, allowing them to take advantage of the cooler weather to complete heavy tasks around the gardens and to enjoy the tranquil, early morning light while the estate is still quiet.
· The grounds teams maintain our gardens- mowing the lawns, planting seeds and tending to flower beds in our country gardens, croquet lawn, and kitchen garden – a beautiful yet practical slice of our estate that now helps to feed our kitchens at The Restaurant.
- The vineyard team begins vital seasonal work, getting into tractors and doing essential tasks, such as leaf stripping and mowing to care for our 220-acre estate. At this time of year, we’re between flowering and fruit set, which is the first time we really get a glimpse into Vintage 2025- it’s still too early to give any teasers, though!
8:00–9:00am — Winery & Production Teams Begin
Our winery team’s day aligns with the rhythm of the winemaking calendar and is almost as seasonal a job as vineyard work. Late June is a quieter time, we’ve just finished filtration of our 2024 base wines and are prepping the winery for bottling next month:
- The team deep-clean and organise the winery in preparation for bottling in August, when they will begin to make the yeast culture (the liqueur de tirage) which will initiate the second fermentation in bottle.
Meanwhile, our cellar team are vital in preparing the wines that are ready to drink for market. Whether they’re riddling wine to move the lees into the bottle neck, disgorging finished wines, or labelling bottles ahead of dispatch to our customers, our post-production department is always a hive of activity.
- Today, they’re disgorging the next batch of Classic Cuvee- this is our bestseller, so is a regular job in the cellar and means everything goes smoothly for an easy Friday!
8.30-9am — Office Staff Begin Their Day
In our offices, our team work behind the scenes to ensure the business runs smoothly and efficiently day to day. It’s the side of Hambledon Wine Estate that you may not see when you visit – but it is here, five days a week (or more!), making sure our wine is made and sold.
· This Friday is editorial calendar day for our marketing team, who do this quarterly- it’s a huge job, but very satisfying when it’s done and is great fun being creative and brainstorming ideas for the next three months. In the process, our brand manager says hello to Betty, the vineyard dog. She then ceases to do any valuable work for the duration of her office visit.
- It’s month end for Finance, which means a lot of concentration and a lot of important work reconciling the incomings and outgoings for the month just past- as well as ensuring our inventory is all in check. The lack of coffee being drunk in their department is frankly quite impressive.
10:00–11:00am — Chef Team Prepares for Service
Our chef team arrive hours before first service to ensure everything is prepped and ready for a smooth day at The Restaurant. With so many carefully prepared dishes on the menu, nothing is left to chance and everything is meticulously created to ensure the best possible experience for our guests.
· When ingredients are in season, the chefs don’t just use them on the day – they pickle, preserve, purée, and more to capture the season in a jar, ready to bring life to a dish whenever it’s needed.
· They also of course, prepare dishes for the day, making sauces, readying garnishes and ensuring the kitchen has the correct flow and order for the day to come.
There’s artistry in every detail, and the team takes pride in creating dishes that reflect both the land and the season.
10:00am–Late — Hospitality Team in Action
Our hospitality team is always here early to set the stage, ensuring every detail is perfect, whether that’s polishing glassware, chilling our English Sparkling Wine to the perfect temperature, or briefing the team for the day ahead:
- They welcome visitors to our Cellar Door, conduct tours, tastings, and ensure the restaurant and event spaces are ready for service- our first customers begin to browse the Cellar Door at 10am, and we welcome people throughout the day from then.
- Between service periods they’re still hard at work reflecting on feedback, refining our service, and brainstorming new ideas – whether it's seasonal events, signature cocktails, or personalised guest touches.
Their goal is simple: make every visitor feel special and create memorable moments that reflect the spirit of Hambledon.