Last week, our very own Giles hopped into the trusty Series III Land Rover – fondly known as ‘Blue Bell’ – and set off through the Hampshire countryside for a rather special mission: a sneak peek of the brand-new cellar door shop at Hambledon Vineyard, just in time for English Wine Week.

Invited by the lovely folks at Hampshire Fare, Giles was treated to an exclusive first look at the new space – and it’s exactly what you’d expect from Hambledon: stylish, packed with their full wine range, some cracking merchandise, and local treats like @hartridges soft drinks.

But of course, the real star of the show was the Classic Cuvée – Hambledon’s elegant sparkling wine. A blend of all three classic Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier), handpicked from the estate and aged for at least 35 months. It’s crisp, floral, full of stone fruit notes and just the right balance of zing. Basically, it’s Hampshire in a glass.

Hambledon has a special place in Giles’ heart. He’s been watching England’s oldest commercial vineyard flourish from its early days – from the replanting of the vines to the mind-blowing excavation of the chalk cellar. He’s even been lucky enough to judge the Judgment of Hampshire tasting – a blind showdown of five English sparkling wines versus five top Champagnes. Who came out on top? Hambledon, of course.

A little backstory for you: the vineyard was founded in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, with early advice from the folks at Champagne house Pol Roger. Rumour has it they deliberately nudged him away from the top Champagne grape varieties to protect their patch – cheeky.

Fast-forward to 1999, when Ian Kellett took the reins and brought the fizz back in full force. He believed in the chalky soil and the potential of English sparkling wine, and planted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. He even built the UK’s only gravity-fed winery. Hambledon’s been raising the bar ever since.

Now under the expert wing of Berry Bros. & Rudd and Symington Family Estates, Hambledon isn’t just holding its own – it’s helping lead the English wine revolution.

So here’s to local legends, a glass of something special, and celebrating what makes Hampshire truly sparkle. 🍾