Test Valley Vineyards
Why Test Valley is good for vineyards
The River Test is famous across the world for the gentle art of fly fishing. The gin clear water owes its character to the Hampshire chalk over which it flows.
The 300-foot thick layer of upper chalk, laid down 100 million years ago, extends under the English Channel to northern France - home to Champagne and Chablis and also makes Test Valley the perfect place for another interesting local product – the grapes to make sparkling white wine and sparkling pink Rosé.
This leaflet celebrates wine growing and wine making in Test Valley and encourages you to come and sample its delights by visiting its many beautiful villages and exploring its lovely countryside. Enjoy a souvenir bottle from one of the local outlets or markets.
As the chalk characterises so much of Hampshire it is no surprise that the county plays host to dozens of vineyards from very small family-owned enterprises right up to some of the best-known English wineries.
Test Valley has 11 different vineyards and devotes more acres to wine growing (some 250 acres) than anywhere else in Hampshire.
The main grape varieties are:
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Chardonnay
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Pinot Noir
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Bacchus
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Seyval Blanc
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Reichensteiner
Nyetimber
020 7734 8490
Of Nyetimber’s eleven vineyards, two of these are in Test Valley – Chalk Vale, near Stockbridge and Hazeldown, near Longstock. In 1988, Nyetimber pioneered the style of English Sparkling Wine we know today by planting the first Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines in the UK purely for the production of traditional method sparkling wine. Over the years, Nyetimber has won countless awards and accolades at international tastings and competitions. Perhaps most notably, their Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs was named ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ at the International Wine Challenge in 2018 - she was the first person outside of Champagne and the first ever woman to be awarded this prestigious title! Quality is key to everything at Nyetimber, so they only use the finest, hand-picked estate-grown fruit to craft their sparkling wines. Today they own 327 hectares of vineyards across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
Wines produced:
Nyetimber Classic Cuvee MV, Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs, Nyetimber Rosé MV
Nyetimber Cuvee Chérie MV, Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard, Nyetimber 1086 and Nyetimber 1086 Rosé
Grapes grown:
Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir
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Danebury Vineyards
01264 781851
Established in 1988, Danebury Vineyards is on a privately owned estate near Stockbridge on the paddocks of what was a famous 19th Century racehorse training yard. The vineyards cover seven acres of sheltered south facing fields on chalk and flint soil, producing award-winning sparkling and still white wine which can be found in top establishments and independent wine merchants in the area. Please visit their website www.danebury.com for their on-line shop and further information on bookable events. Danebury are not open to the public. The vineyard is named after the nearby Iron Age hill fort, one of the most famous in the country.
Grapes grown:
Auxerrois Blanc, Madeleine Angevine,
Rulander, Schonburger
Wines produced:
Cossack Brut, Madeleine Angevine,
Schonburger, Reserve
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Coach House Vineyard
Salisbury Road, West Wellow, Romsey, SO51 6BW
01794 323345
A small vineyard of one acre established in 1987. The wine is made at Setley Ridge Vineyard in Brockenhurst and is a dry white from the Bacchus and Reichensteiner grapes.
Wine GB Wessex is the region of Wine GB (the national association of growers and wine producers) that covers Test Valley. It provides help to existing and prospective vineyard owners and through competitions and events helps to increase the quality of the wines produced in the area and to promote sales.
Any questions about the vineyards of the area or the prospect of starting up, please call the Wine GB Wessex Secretary, currently Roger Marchbank at The Coach House Vineyard or email roger.marchbank@btinternet.com.
Wines produced:
Coach House Dry White
Grapes grown:
Bacchus
Reichensteiner
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Black Chalk Wine
Black Chalk Wine, The Old Dairy, Fullerton Road SP11 7JX
01264 860440
Black Chalk Wine lies between Stockbridge and Andover near the picturesque village of Wherwell. Thirty acres of prime Test Valley chalkland plays host to 45,000 Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir vines. A brand new state-of-the-art winery was finished in 2020 and produces world-beating English wines. Black Chalk have won a plethora of gold medals and trophies at both domestic and international competitions. Tour bookings are available on www.blackchalkwine.co.uk and will give you a glance at the beautiful vineyards and a rare chance to see how English wine is produced.
Wines produced:
Black Chalk ‘Classic’, Black Chalk ‘Wild Rose’, Black Chalk still rosé, Black Chalk still Chardonnay
Grapes grown:
Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
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Leckford Estate
01264 810270
The Leckford Estate, in the heart of Test Valley, is owned by the John Lewis Partnership, having been bought by the founder, John Spedan Lewis in 1928.
The River Test runs through the estate, which includes a farm, water garden, plant nursery and farm shop.
In 2009, Waitrose became the first retailer to plant its own vineyard. The estate covers 2,800 acres. It has 17 acres of vineyards, with 25,000 individual vines of the three classic Champagne varieties of grape – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The estate aims to generate enough grapes for around 40,000 bottles of wine a year. Grapes have been harvested since 2011, producing vintage Leckford Estate branded sparkling wine.
Harvested in October the sparkling wine was blended and matured at Ridgeview, Sussex. It is available in selected Waitrose branches and from the Leckford Estate Farm Shop.
Wines produced:
Leckford Estate Brut
Grapes grown:
Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
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Somborne Valley
01794 388547
Somborne Valley Vineyards lie on the slopes about King’s Somborne on Hoplands Estate.
The three vineyards, Cow Common, Garlick Lane and Home Vineyard were planted in the Millennium, 2016 and 2017 respectively, totaling some 30 acres. Home Vineyard had its first harvest in 2019 producing both a Bacchus and Sauvignon Blanc.
Somborne Valley produces award-winning still and sparkling wines which are popular and available in Stockbridge and various local village shops together with independent wine merchants.
Wines Produced:
Still white: Bacchua, Sauvignon Blanc, Red: Estate Reserve, Sparkling: Blanc de Blancs, Blush Rose.
Grapes Grown:
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Rondo, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Bacchus, Sauvignon Blanc.
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Chalkdown Wines
Hampshire Downs Fine Cider Company Limited, Harewood Farm, Andover Down, Hampshire, SP11 6LJ
A new range of sparkling wines from the Test Valley from the producers of Chalkdown Cider – a multiple award winning champagne-method cider. The first release is expected in 2022.
Where to buy Test Valley wines
All local Waitrose stores
Chilbolton Village Store
Village Street, Chilbolton, Hampshire, SO206BE
01264 860231
Stone, Vine and Sun
No.13 Humphrey Farms, Hazeley Road, Twyford, Hampshire, SO21 1QA
01962 712351
The Rockingham Arms
Canada Road, West Wellow, Hampshire, SO51 6DE
01794 324798
Wine Utopia
High Street, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6EX
01264 252080
The Leckford Estate Farm Shop and Cafe
Longstock Park Nursery, Stockbridge, SO20 6EH
01264 810270
Abbotts Ann Village Shop and Post Office
Duck Street, Abbotts Ann, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 7AZ
01264 710230
Fickle Pickle
The Old Dairy, Fullerton Road, Cottonworth, Hampshire, SP11 7JX
07724 117497
Dish Deli and Kitchen
16 Latimer Street, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8DG
01794 513663
Hampshire Farmers Market, Romsey
First Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm
Alma Road Car Park, Romsey, SO51 8ED
01420 588671
T & M Convenience Stores
7-9 Viney Avenue, Romsey, SO51 7NR
01794 521019
The Little Whiskey Shop
Lillies, High Street, Stockbridge, SO20 6HF
01264 811566
Cross Stores
Winchester Road, King's Somborne, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6NY
01794 388341