THE UK - WESSEX WINE REGION
Black Chalk vineyards, Hampshire
Photo source: Black Chalk
Suggestions for visiting Hampshire vineyards, getting to know Wiltshire wines & doing some wine tasting in Dorset!….
Hampshire wines, Dorset wines, Wiltshire wines
Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of Great Britain, from 519 until England was unified in 927. It can be applied today to define a region covering the counties of Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.
In terms of its geography, it is a region defined by chalk and Jurassic limestone, which can prove ideal for growing vines. Top-quality vineyards and wineries have sprung up across this region, notably in Hampshire around Winchester and in Dorset around Dorchester. Today there are just over 100 UK vineyards in the Wessex wine region, representing about 12% of the total number of hectares under vine in the UK.
Some areas can be exposed to the wind and rain coming off the sea but this a very exciting and innovative region for the UK wine industry and more and more vineyards and award-winning wines are anticipated to emerge from it!
Langham Wine Estate vineyards, Dorset
Recommended vineyards
There are many well-established UK wineries and UK vineyards in the Wessex region, offering wine tours, wine tastings, accommodation, lunches and dinners. See some of the more notable below.
Hambledon Vineyard in Hampshire is perhaps the most famous in the region and is seen as the vineyard which led the revival of English vineyards in 1951.
Remember to contact the winery to confirm your visit in advance and to understand relevant Covid 19 guidelines and restrictions.
Dorset:
Travel guide and other useful information
Visit Hampshire:
Hampshire is described as the perfect blend of city, coast and countryside. Visit the beautiful capital city of Winchester with its magnificent cathedral, as well as the coastal, naval town of Portsmouth. Hampshire is blessed with 2 national parks - the New Forest National Park and the South Downs National Park and then there is the beautiful River Test and Test Valley.
There certainly is something for everyone - see here for ideas!
What to do in Dorset:
Dorset also boasts some beautiful coastline and countryside and is known for the Jurassic Coast, where the rock formations show millions of years of geological history. Two popular natural landmarks are Durdle Door, an ancient stone arch, and the layered cliffs at nearby Lulworth Cove. The towns of Poole, Weymouth and Swanage are popular tourist destinations.
Here is a good website for information about where to visit!
Things to do in Wiltshire:
Another beautiful and quintessentially English county - in fact almost half of Wiltshire is designated an ‘area of outstanding beauty’. Visit the medieval city of Salisbury with its magnificent Cathedral and on everyone’s list, the ancient standing stones at Stonehenge and Avebury as well as the iconic white horses carved into the rolling downs.
Winchester Cathedral
The coast at Swanage
Stonehenge in Wiltshire
Black Chalk Wines in Hampshire is a relative newcomer to the English wine scene, but they are winning rave reviews for their excellent sparkling wines. With one of the best vineyard locations in England, a brand new winery and two very exciting winemakers, Black Chalk is definitely worth exploring!