Our Terroir
Our Terroir
The same Newhaven chalk found in the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne
Hambledon's Unique Geology
Hambledon Wine Estate sits in the village of Hambledon, Hampshire, in the chalky folds of the South Downs National Park.
Our vines grow on gentle south and south-east facing hillsides between roughly 50 and 100 metres above sea level. Just below the surface is Newhaven Chalk, laid down on the seabed of the Paris Basin around 65 million years ago. It is this same belemnite-rich chalk that underpins many of the best vineyards in the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne, making Hambledon so well suited to world-class English Sparkling Wine.
A labour of love and a place to grow
Life at the Vineyard
Hambledon now covers over 200 acres of vines over several vineyard sites in and around the village. All are planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier: the top three classic grapes of traditional-method sparkling wine.
Home Vineyard sits on the steep south-east facing slope beneath Mill Down House, and was where Sir Guy first planted his vines back in 1952. Windmill Down West stretches to the West of our Visitor Centre our Windmill Down East wraps along the top of the house and into the valley, with two further vineyards across Hampshire. Each site (and microsites within) has its own aspect and microclimate, and each is picked, pressed and fermented separately.
Our presses and gravity-fed winery are on site, so grapes move quickly from vineyard to press during harvest; something that is essential for the freshness and precise flavours you’ll taste in our wines.
Work in the vineyards is hands-on all year round: every vine is pruned by hand in winter and every bunch of grapes is hand-harvested in September and October. Much like caring for your garden at home, but on a much larger scale, we really get to know each and every vine through the year, along with their unique nuances!
Our team are steadily adopting more regenerative practices: reducing soil disturbance, sowing cover crops to build organic matter and biodiversity, and treating hedgerows and margins as wildlife corridors. The aim is healthy soils, resilient vines and a landscape that will reward us with exceptional quality of fruit - and harmony with nature - for many years to come.
Historic photographs show harvests, cellar work and early visitors gathering at the estate long before vineyard tours or wine tasting in the UK became a thing. Now, you can experience our vineyards and learn about our terroirs first-hand. Walk among the vines, learn about the chalk soils and finish with a guided wine tasting in our Visitor Centre. A relaxed way to discover English sparkling wine in its home landscape.
Why is our terroir so special?
Chardonnay grown on chalk at Hambledon is the purest expression of our marine fossil-rich terroir.
All of our grapes are grown on Newhaven Chalk, the same chalk found in some of the finest Chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne. Chalk drains freely after heavy rain yet holds enough moisture to support deep roots through dry spells.
This balance encourages modest yields and slow, steady ripening. The result is fruit with high natural acidity, fine structure and a clear mineral line. Exactly what’s needed for sparkling wine that can be enjoyed immediately, or put away to age for a special occasion.
You’ll find that we talk about our soils and subsoils rather a lot. We strongly believe that understanding the soil is a crucial part of discovering English wine, right from the very beginning of its journey to your glass.