While the summer draws to a close, autumn brings a wealth of opportunities to discover Hambledon Vineyard. Located just over an hour from London by train, our home in the heart of the South Downs is the ideal day trip from London, to get away from the city and experience the English countryside at its finest.
Where is Hambledon Vineyard?
Located in the picturesque village of Hambledon, in Hampshire, Hambledon Vineyard is England’s oldest commercial vineyard- established in 1952. Nestled within the South Downs National park, our location not only grants us access to beautiful scenery and quaint villages, but also places us serendipitously on the Paris Basin: a bed of belemnite chalk formed over 65 million years ago. This places Hambledon Vineyard at a great advantage for producing the Finest English Fizz.
Only fifteen minutes from Petersfield train station by car, and 30 minutes from both Winchester and Portsmouth, Hambledon Vineyard is an idyllic, yet easily reachable setting- perfect for a day trip from London, or our surrounding counties. Alternatively, with our idyllic setting in the South Downs, why not integrate your visit to Hambledon Vineyard into a long weekend, or a week-long break in the area? The surrounding areas such as the New Forest, or Winchester, provide the perfect base from which to explore Hampshire.
Vineyard Tours & Tastings
Tours and tastings at Hambledon Vineyard provide the perfect opportunity to gain an insight into the intricate process behind producing the Finest English Fizz, from grape to glass. Guided by one of our experts, you will discover our cherished historic home vineyard and the iconic Mill Down House. Learn about the viticultural year and delve into how our 200-acre estate is managed, punctuated with history and anecdotes from across the years at Hambledon Vineyard. Then, be guided around our state-of-the-art gravity-fed winery, learning about how our wine is made, with quality at the core of our process from the press, to fermentation, to bottling. Finally, witness our cellars cut into chalk to discover the ageing process to essential to the character of our sparkling wines. Finish the tour with a tasting of our Finest English Fizz, optionally paired with a selection of cheeses, or a delicious seasonal Sparkling Afternoon Tea- with a brand new menu to suit the cooler autumn days.
Events
Here at Hambledon Vineyard, we hold a variety of events throughout the autumn and winter period- visit us for our Comedy Night on 9th September (the last few tickets are available)- a night of laughter hosted by James Alderson, our September 2023 lineup South Coast's Comedian of the Year, Angela Barnes, and Dinesh Nathan, culminating with our headliner, the star of 'Would I Lie to You,' 'Live at the Apollo,' and 'Roast Battles' - Stephen Bailey.
Alternatively, join us for one of our Wine and Cheese Tastings. Spend an evening learning about acidity, fat, tannin, texture, and sweetness and how to balance these elements among a variety of cheeses and wines to create the perfect companions. Various wine styles will be shown alongside a variety of cheeses, to show you how to create the perfect matches at home.
Or, for a truly unique experience- in partnership with Alitex, enjoy a dining experience with a difference with "The Glasshouse", a new, limited-time luxury glasshouse vineyard experience. Whether you would prefer to savour a sparkling afternoon tea, enjoy a cheeseboard, or simply share a bottle of the Finest English Fizz with friends, this will assuredly be an afternoon to remember.
Coming Soon…
Our highly anticipated restaurant and visitor centre is in its last stages of development: sign up to our newsletter to keep updated on its opening.
