Hambledon Vineyard

Hambledon Vineyard holds the distinction of being England's first and oldest commercial vineyard. Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones established it in 1952, drawing direct inspiration from consultations with the Champagne house Pol Roger. The estate sits in the village of Hambledon, which is also celebrated as the Cradle of Cricket, giving the site a doubly historic pedigree. After a period of decline in the mid-1990s, oenologist Ian Kellett revitalized the estate in 1999 and replanted the vineyards with classic Champagne varieties in 2002. A landmark gravity-fed winery, the first and only of its kind in the UK, was completed on site in 2011.

• Founded 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones following consultation with Pol Roger
• Revitalized from 1999 by Ian Kellett; replanted with Champagne varieties in 2002
• UK's first and only gravity-fed winery completed in 2011
• Since approximately 2024, owned in a 50-50 partnership between Berry Bros. & Rudd and Symington Family Estates

Hambledon's terroir is its defining asset. The vineyards sit on Newhaven Chalk, a Belemnite-rich chalk dating back 65 million years that originates from the Paris basin, directly comparable to the celebrated chalk of Champagne's Côtes des Blancs. The south-east facing slopes at 50 to 100 metres above sea level ensure excellent sun exposure. The proximity to the sea (just six miles from the coast) and the protective influence of the Isle of Wight combine to create conditions that are slightly warmer and drier than the broader UK average, with the sea also providing natural frost protection.

• Newhaven Chalk soil is Belemnite-rich and 65 million years old, matching Champagne's Côtes des Blancs geology
• South-east facing slopes at 50-100 metres elevation maximise insolation
• Six miles from the sea offers frost protection and moderates the climate
• Slightly warmer and drier than the wider UK average due to the South Downs location

The estate grows the three classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. All wines are produced using méthode traditionnelle. Aging regimes significantly exceed the nine-month minimum required under English Wine standards. The Classic Cuvée spends a minimum of 21 months on lees, while the flagship Première Cuvée undergoes more than five years of extended aging. This commitment to lees contact is central to the house style. Hambledon also undertakes contract winemaking, producing an additional 100,000 to 150,000 bottles annually for outside clients.

• Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier
• All wines made via méthode traditionnelle (méthode champenoise)
• Classic Cuvée: minimum 21 months aging; Première Cuvée: 5+ years on lees
• Both standards far exceed the 9-month English Wine requirement

Hambledon currently produces approximately 500,000 bottles annually of its own wines, with production expected to reach one million bottles per year at peak capacity in the mid-2030s. The wines have received multiple Gold Medals from Decanter, including awards in 2021 and 2023. A cellar door restaurant opened at the estate in 2025, further cementing Hambledon's position as a leading destination in English wine. The estate produces both English Sparkling Wine and English Sparkling Rosé.

• Current production approximately 500,000 bottles per year of Hambledon wines
• Peak production target of 1 million bottles per year in the mid-2030s
• Multiple Decanter Gold Medals including 2021 and 2023
• Cellar door restaurant opened 2025