Hampshire vineyards create wine association

Seven Hampshire wineries have joined forces to create a new group to promote the English county’s sparkling and still wines.

Corinne Seely, winemaker at Exton Park, which is one of the seven founder members of Vineyards of Hampshire

Called Vineyards of Hampshire, the organisation has been formed to carve out an identity for Hampshire as a source of high-quality wines, and comprises Danebury, Exton Park, Cottonworth, Hambledon, Hattingley Valley, Jenkyn Place and Meonhill.

“People might expect us all to be highly competitive, but such is the strength of the emerging English wine scene, and the pride we have in our county and its distinctive terroir, that we all pull together in a positive way to make sure Hampshire’s wines are seen as a force to be reckoned with,” said Simon Bladon of Jenkyn Place, on behalf of Vineyards of Hampshire.

Formation of the group followed the Hampshire Wine Festival at Hambledon Vineyards this summer, when the aforementioned wineries worked together to promote Hampshire’s still and sparkling wines, as well as at the Hampshire Wine Marquee at the Emsworth Great British Food Fortnight earlier this month.

Plans are now in hand to put take advantage of Christmas festivities with two ‘Fairy Lights and Fizz’ consumer evenings in December, taking place at Hambledon and Cottonworth, which will feature tutored tastings alongside wine sales.

Early in 2016, Vineyards of Hampshire will hit London with a joint tasting to show their wines to key press, retailers and sommeliers, and in July, Hattingley Valley will host another Hampshire Wine Festival.

However, Hampshire vineyards are not attempting to get Protected Designation of Origin status, unlike Sussex, home to wineries such as Nyetimber and Ridgeview, which has applied to the EU for a PDO for the county.

Meanwhile, over two years ago, Cornwall’s Camel Valley achieved protected status from the UK government – but not the EU – for Bacchus grapes from a site called Darnibole, which is special for its slate subsoil by the same name.