Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-vines-with-view-min.jpg" alt="Louis Pommery England Pinglestone Estate Hampshire" class="wp-image-32173" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-vines-with-view-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-vines-with-view-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-vines-with-view-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-vines-with-view-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-vines-with-view-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A big French name with a heck of a heritage, champagne house Vranken Pommery Monopole planted their first vines in English soil in 2017. Oenologist and group head winemaker Clément Pierlot had his eyes set firmly on Hampshire and one year earlier had spied a prime arable plot in his wish-list location of Alresford. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1066" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-estate-sign-min.jpg" alt="gate into Pinglestone Estate Vineyard Hampshire Louis Pommery England" class="wp-image-32165" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-estate-sign-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-estate-sign-min-800x569.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-estate-sign-min-1000x711.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-estate-sign-min-768x546.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-estate-sign-min-739x525.jpg 739w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Despite it not actually being for sale, Pommery managed to snag the beautiful Pinglestone Estate, adding to an international portfolio that includes Camargue and Provence in southern France, the Douro Valley in Portugal and California&#8217;s Napa Valley. <a href="https://www.louis-pommery.com/wine/england" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louis Pommery England</a> had arrived.</p>



<p>After a successful first harvest in 2022, this year the Pinglestone team anticipate an even bigger yield. Ever obliging, Muddy happily dropped by to help bring it in.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-terroir">THE TERROIR </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Will-Perkins-Head-Winemaker-min.jpg" alt="Will Perkins winemaker at the Pinglestone Estate Hampshire English sparkling wine Louis Pommery" class="wp-image-32176" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Will-Perkins-Head-Winemaker-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Will-Perkins-Head-Winemaker-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Will-Perkins-Head-Winemaker-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Will-Perkins-Head-Winemaker-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Will-Perkins-Head-Winemaker-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Having grown up just outside Winchester, Louis Pommery England winemaker Will Perkins really knows the lay of the land here, as well as having international experience from working in South Africa, Spain, California, New Zealand, Australia and Champagne. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-grapes-on-vine-min-1.jpg" alt="Grapes growing on the vines at Pinglestone Estate Alresford Hampshire Louis Pommery England" class="wp-image-32170" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-grapes-on-vine-min-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-grapes-on-vine-min-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-grapes-on-vine-min-1-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-grapes-on-vine-min-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-grapes-on-vine-min-1-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Spanning 40 hectares in Alresford and nearby Lovington, Louis Pommery England have carefully mapped out 23 blocks with varied altitudes, sunlight facing directions different soil profiles and planted classic champagne grapes of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot mernieur, as well as a few plots of pinot gris.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1013" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-bee-hives-min.jpg" alt="Bee hives at the Pinglestone Estate Louis Pommery England Hampshire" class="wp-image-32164" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-bee-hives-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-bee-hives-min-800x540.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-bee-hives-min-1000x675.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-bee-hives-min-768x519.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-bee-hives-min-777x525.jpg 777w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Adopting a custodian-like approach, biodiversity is high on the agenda at the Pinglestone Estate &#8211; and something Perkins speaks about passionately. This includes using sheep as lawnmowers, planting wildflower triangles beside the vines, working harmoniously with rare flowers and endangered local bird species and even a buzzing collection of hives. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE TECHNIQUE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-vines-min.jpg" alt="Harvest time at Louis Pommery England Pinglestone Estate Muddy Stilettos Editor Heidi Ruge in the vines" class="wp-image-32172" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-vines-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-vines-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-vines-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-vines-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-vines-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Currently hopping over to use the winery facilities of neighbouring Alresford producer&nbsp;Hattingley Valley, Louis Pommery England&#8217;s current vintage is a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier (plus a little pinot gris), all grown on English soil. It&#8217;s made with base and reserve wines, using the traditional Champagne method.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE TASTE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min.jpg" alt="Heidi Ruge tasting Louis Pommery English sparkling wine at the Pinglestone Estate Hampshire" class="wp-image-32171" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-Heidi-tasting-min-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Light, crisp and very quaffable indeed, the current Louis Pommery England vintage has plenty of French sophistication, fruity on the nose with fine bubbles and notes of fresh apple to taste. Ooh, la, la!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TRY IT!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-glass-and-bottles-min.jpg" alt="Louis Pommery England English Sparkling wine Hampshire England" class="wp-image-32166" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-glass-and-bottles-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-glass-and-bottles-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-glass-and-bottles-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-glass-and-bottles-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/10/Pommery-Pinglestone-glass-and-bottles-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>With planning permission now granted for a new winery here, there&#8217;s high hopes the 2025 vintage will be made entirely on the Pinglestone Estate. And I&#8217;m told Louis Pommery England are about to pop the cork on a new rose (expected December 2023). </p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.louis-pommery.com/wine/england" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louis Pommery England</a> expect to release the first Pinglestone Estate label wines in 2024. Until then, pick up a bottle from retailers including Sainsbury&#8217;s and Majestic.</em></p>


Hampshire vineyards: Pinglestone Estate, Alresford

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