Founded in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon Vineyard boasts a distinguished legacy of pioneering English winemaking. Discover more about this historic vineyard, beautifully situated in the heart of the 'Cradle of Cricket'.
During the summer of 1951 Major General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones was looking out of the dining room window of Mill Down House with his stepson John thinking about what to do with the field directly below them. As Sir Guy was a keen wine lover and Francophile, having spent time as a diplomat in Paris, John suggested he might consider planting a vineyard?
The seed had been sown and Sir Guy began researching the feasibility of
planting vines on the south-facing chalky slopes surrounding the house in
Hambledon on the South Downs. After careful deliberation, and with the help and advice from friends at the renowned Champagne House Pol Roger, he planted
a number of different grape varieties in 1952 and went on to release the first
commercial range of English wines in 1955.
