English wines used to be the reserve of those in the know, for very special occasions. However with growing demand and improvements in methods and climate, many producers are now able to make them more accessible to many – especially with our exclusive offer below.
Simon Robinson, Hattingley Valley’s founder, had always wanted to make something that was quintessentially British. When he heard a radio programme in 2000 on the rapidly developing English wine scene, his Hattingley adventure began. With family encouragement, he decided to turn over 25 acres of chalky, south sloping fields to vineyards in pursuit of his dream (employing the latest laser-guided planting technology). Simon realised he needed an expert winemaker to make Hattingley as good as he wanted it to be and set out to find one – and, the end of 2008, he met Emma.
Emma Rice had been among the first to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Oenology from Plumpton College, and after that, she honed her winemaking skills in Australian and Californian vineyards. She won UK Winemaker of the Year in 2014 and 2016 – the first woman to win this prestigious prize.
“Emma leads our wonderfully talented wine-making team overseeing the job of turning our grapes into premium quality sparkling wine.” Comments Chris Unger, their Sales and Marketing Director. “Today, the winery is now one of Britain’s best known, and we have a large and expanding export reach that includes Australia, Japan, Norway, Germany, USA and numerous others.”
Vineyards and Partners
Hattingley Valley have always sourced fruit from a wide range of England’s regions rather than just relying on their own vineyards in Hampshire. Although England is a small country, there are many soil types and microclimates, which make all the difference in a cool, marginal climate. Frost can be a major problem, so being able to spread the risk across various areas is very useful.
Over the past few years, they have worked with several established farmers who either had vineyards already or wished to diversify from other farming types. Emma travels countless miles to find the best growers with the ideal conditions to establish vineyards. Growing grapes successfully is tremendously difficult in the UK, so she only chooses those sites with true potential.
“The old adage of ‘you can make bad wine from good grapes, but it is impossible to make good wine from bad grapes’ remains true. We work very hard to ensure that we work with only the very best grapes possible and we are now pleased to see these vineyards starting to bear fruit (quite literally).” Comments Emma
The Winery
The winery was built to Emma’s exacting standards just in time for their first harvest in 2010 with an eye on sustainability and quality from the outset. The team installed multiple solar panels on the roof and ensured that they exceeded the already rigorous minimums for insulation. Also installing a Bio-Bubble digester which cleans all of their wastewater, ensuring that no pollution is released into the beautiful countryside.
Emma was lucky enough to build her dream winery, and Simon only wanted the best quality equipment to be installed, something which we are grateful for today. Over the years, Hattingley Valley have become one of the UK’s largest wineries with over 100 stainless steel, temperature-controlled fermentation tanks of various sizes, four presses to process the grapes and over 230 oak barriques. They also have a disgorging line that can process over 1000 bottles in an hour (think Wallace and Gromit on steroids) which is something to see in action!
English Wines At Home
Hattingley Valley Wines describe their production process as both an art and a science. Its first vines were planted in 2008 and it released its first bottles in 2013 to critical acclaim, with strong international demand. Along with Gusbourne, Chapel Down and Ridgeview in the chalky South Downs, Hattingley remains one of the country’s biggest producers.
Blanc de Blancs
A blend of our finest Chardonnay parcels, a proportion of this wine is fermented in both new and old Burgundy barrels before undergoing secondary fermentation in the bottle. It has a pure fruit character and great ageing potential.
Classic Reserve
Made using the traditional method from a carefully selected blend of traditional varieties, this is an elegant wine with finesse and a characteristic toasty flavour. A non-vintage blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier using some premium quality reserve wine and a little barrel influence.
The English Gent
This is something a little different from us; it’s a blend of the fragrant Bacchus grape variety and Pinot Gris. It’s made by the traditional method, but it only matures for around six months before we release it, keeping it beautifully fresh and fragrant.
English Wine Week, runs from Saturday 18th June to Sunday 26th 2022, celebrating all these wonderful wineries and aim to inspire more people to explore the delights of the English wines produced here in the British Isles. Most of these vineyards run regular tours, and you could even combine it with an overnight break. Of course there is also Father’s Day in June and many special dates throughout the year – but who needs an excuse to celebrate with English wines?
Happy discovering!
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