News

The festive season is fast approaching, and with it, a wealth of Christmas Parties to attend. From large, glittering gatherings to small soirees, the Finest English Fizz provides the perfect accompaniment for any occasion. 

We are delighted to announce that our iconic vineyard – a true piece of British heritage, established in 1952 – is now officially part of the Berry Bros & Rudd and the Symington families, as the acquisition was confirmed this morning.  

Our Head Chef, Nick Edgar, follows his delicious vegetarian main course, a Pickled Beetroot, Smoked Cumbrian Cheese, Horseradish and Apple Salad, with an equally compelling Battenberg Crème Brulée for pudding. Another perfect pairing for our  Première Cuvée Rosé.

Autumn is here, and we’re excited about the wealth of produce the season brings. September is a month of abundance, with a variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables available to purchase at their peak. Our Head Chef, Nick Edgar, provides two recipes that both showcase the best of British at this time of year, and pair perfectly with our Première Cuvée Rosé.

Hampshire, a diverse and vibrant county, continually offers a wide range of events to cater to all tastes, ages, and preferences. At Hambledon Vineyard, we're deeply rooted in the Hampshire community, savoring all the facets of this county, from its urban hubs to its rustic landscapes. Here's a glimpse of the events that have us eagerly anticipating the winter season:

As Harvest Commences, we find ourselves with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the exceptional elements that contribute to our unique wines- from our terroir, climate, and the remarkable talent here at Hambledon Vineyard. Blending the Savoir Faire inherited from our Champagne counterparts with a bold, pioneering spirit that stems from our growing industry, unique climate and the exceptional individuals who shape our brand. 

As we enter September, we applaud the arrival of oyster season. Oysters and sparkling wine are synonymous with one another as the perfect pairing and, believe it or not, there is a scientific reason behind this. Unscientifically, however, the luxury associated with both fizz and oysters means the two make an undeniably festive pairing.

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.

Today is National Pinot Noir Day, which gives us the perfect chance to celebrate an integral component in the traditional sparkling wine blend. As a relatively early ripening varietal, Pinot Noir is ideal for the English Climate- as sugars and phenolics develop early, the grapes can be harvested with an optimum ratio of sugar to acid, reliably in a cooler climate. However, despite its acquiescence with our climate, effectively cultivating this grape can be the vigneron’s greatest challenge.

When thinking of the best days out in Hampshire, the New Forest is intrinsically one of the first places that comes to mind. Renowned for its beautiful scenery, eclectic wildlife and vast expanse of ancient forest, the National Park offers options for couples, friends, and families alike- from rugged hiking routes to boutique hotels, there is truly something to suit all tastes.

As a producer of the finest English Fizz, the vineyard takes pride in crafting exceptional sparkling wines. However, Hambledon Vineyard goes beyond winemaking, striving to create an unforgettable experience for its visitors. With a range of captivating offerings, from immersive Vineyard Tours to delightful Comedy Nights, this destination promises a truly unique and memorable experience for all who visit.

Today, we celebrate the release of our long-awaited addition to our Première Range- our Première Cuvée Rosé. A style evolved over years of ageing sur latte, this bottle offers a highly complex, Pinot Meunier-Led addition to our award-winning range.

The English Wine industry has undoubtedly thrived over the past decade, capturing the attention of wine enthusiasts, and becoming a fascinating addition to cellars, a delightful conversation starter at parties, and a genuine passion for many. However, it's important to acknowledge that cultivating wine in England comes with its fair share of challenges.

As we embrace the arrival of summer, National BBQ Week marks the inaugural event of the season. There is an undeniable festive spirit in cooking signature dishes over an open fire, in beautiful weather, surrounded by friends, family, and the Finest English Fizz. Our team is thrilled to have another reason to indulge in delectable cuisine paired perfectly with our wines, and our in-house experts have weighed in their ideal barbeque and English Sparkling Wine pairings.

One could argue that terroir is foundational to the character of a wine, from soil type, to climate, and vineyard location- the terroir describes the entirety of the vine’s surroundings. Ours is something that we prize. Located on Belemnite chalk, the same that was formed on the seabed of the Paris Basin some 65 million years ago, our subsoil boasts the same chalk content as some of the best chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne. 

Our home in Hampshire provides a beautiful and diverse surrounding environment for Hambledon Vineyard- it is the terroir that is responsible for the unique character of our grapes, the place that many of our team call home and spend many...

The women who contribute so much to our team here at Hambledon Vineyard are undoubtedly experts in their fields and we want to celebrate the passion and drive that propels them to keep our growing business running. So, for International Women's Day 2023, we raised a glass to all of the women in our business and sat down with some of them to discuss which Hambledon Vineyard Cuvée was in their glass, what they would pair it with and why?

Hambledon Vineyard pays tribute to our mothers with Mother’s Day gifts of fizz, food and the memories of a lifetime. Our selection of gifts for wine lovers includes indulgent presents to be shared and savoured with your loved ones- they’re also fantastic ways to gather – and to raise a glass to one of the most important people in your life.

January: there's no better excuse than to get together with friends, to enjoy delicious food alongside the Finest English Fizz. Our recipe for Coq Au Vin provides a simple, yet elegant dinner party dish, that can be cooked in advance with ease, to give you more time to enjoy the company of your nearest and dearest.

As England’s Oldest Commercial Vineyard, Hambledon Vineyard will be celebrating its 70^th Christmas this year, in 2022. As life on our Hampshire vineyard has evolved, so have our Christmas celebrations. In the spirit of nostalgia in such an important year, it seems opportune to look back over the past seven decades of Hambledon Vineyard’s life, at how festive celebrations, both familiar and unfamiliar, have developed alongside our vineyard.

Making the most of seasonal, British produce is important to us here at Hambledon Vineyard and this recipe for a butternut squash, sage and blue cheese risotto is the perfect example of how one can allow the finest British produce to shine, alongside the Finest English Fizz.