Bluestone Vineyards

Bluestone Vineyards was established when brothers Nat and Toby McConnell planted vines in 2016 on a portion of their family's 42-acre Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm. The vineyard takes its name from the bluestones of the nearby Stonehenge World Heritage site, located just 10 minutes away near Amesbury. The first wines produced from estate-grown fruit came from the 2019 vintage, marking the culmination of several years of careful viticulture in this marginal English growing region.

• Vines planted in 2016 by Nat and Toby McConnell on the family farm
• Named after the bluestones associated with Stonehenge
• First estate wines released from the 2019 vintage
• Sits within the Wiltshire appellation of England

The estate spans 10 acres divided into four distinct parcels: Three Acre, Iron Age, Roundhouse, and Top Field. The south-facing slopes provide the sun exposure essential in England's cool temperate maritime climate. Soils are sandy clay loam with a chalk subsoil and a shallow, free-draining topsoil, conditions well-suited to the classic Champagne varieties grown here. The chalk subsoil in particular echoes the geology found across the finest sparkling wine regions of northern France.

• Sandy clay loam topsoil over chalk subsoil on south-facing slopes
• Marginal cool temperate maritime climate
• Four named parcels: Three Acre, Iron Age, Roundhouse, and Top Field
• Free-draining topsoil supports the cultivation of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier

Bluestone produces limited-release single-estate vintage sparkling wines in a Brut style. The flagship Premier Cuvée 2019 is a blend of 48.5% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 18.5% Pinot Meunier. Winemaking is conducted in partnership with Hervé Jestin, Chef de Cave at Hambledon Vineyard, bringing considerable sparkling wine expertise to the estate. Regenerative viticulture practices and sustainable winemaking methods are central to the vineyard's philosophy.

• Premier Cuvée 2019: 48.5% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, 18.5% Pinot Meunier
• Winemaking partnership with Hervé Jestin at Hambledon
• Regenerative viticulture and sustainable production methods
• Limited-release, single-estate vintage sparkling wines only

Despite being a young estate with its first release only in 2019, Bluestone Vineyards has earned rapid recognition on the English wine circuit. The Premier Cuvée 2019 scored 90 points and won a Silver Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024, while the Cuvée Rosé 2019 achieved 92 points and a Silver Medal at the same competition. The Premier Cuvée 2019 also ranked second among 18 English sparkling wines assessed by The Real Review.

• Premier Cuvée 2019: Silver Medal, 90 points, Decanter World Wine Awards 2024
• Cuvée Rosé 2019: Silver Medal, 92 points, Decanter World Wine Awards 2024
• Premier Cuvée 2019 ranked second among 18 English sparkling wines in The Real Review
• Both debut releases recognised within five years of the first vintage

Bluestone Vineyards operates as an integrated agritourism destination, combining the vineyard with the family's existing Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm. A tasting room and vineyard tours welcome over 30,000 visitors annually, making the estate a significant draw in the Wiltshire countryside. Its proximity to Stonehenge, one of the United Kingdom's most visited landmarks, places it at the intersection of heritage tourism and the growing interest in English wine.

• Over 30,000 visitors per year to the tasting room and vineyard tours
• Part of the broader Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm operation
• Located approximately 10 minutes from Stonehenge
• Agritourism model integrates wine production with farm visits