Hampshire’s Hattingley Valley to release first still wines

Hattingley Valley has become the latest English winery to announce a move into still wine with the launch of two expressions: a rosé from the 2019 vintage and a Pinot Noir from 2016.

Called ‘Still’, the limited-edition range currently comprises two expressions. The rosé, made from Pinot Noir Précoce grown in Kent and Berkshire, will be released early next month.

Produced using the saignée method, the wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and is said to have “vibrant acidity” with “refreshing notes of red fruit”. It will retail for £14 a bottle.

Later this year, it will be joined by a still red, made from 100% Pinot Noir. The wine was fermented on its skins for two weeks before being aged in French oak barrels for three years.

A total of 8,000 bottles are available, which will be sold by Hattingley, its trade distributor Enotria & Coe, and independent UK retailers.

Established in 2008 by Simon Robinson, Hattingley is the English pioneer of the so-called ‘swap model’ whereby vineyards send in their grapes and receive a certain percentage back as their own wine.

Hattingley has almost 11 hectares of its own vines planted across two different sites. It has space to store a total of 500,000 litres on site – 72% of which is its own wine, while the rest goes to clients including High Clandon, Raimes, The Grange and Roebuck.

Most famously, Hattingley was selected as the partner for Champagne Pommery’s English wine, after the Champagne house first put down roots in the UK in 2014. The resulting wine was Louis Pommery Brut, a blend of Chardonnay (55%), Pinot Noir (37%), Pinot Meunier (8%).

Most recently, Bluebell Vineyard branched into still wines with the release of three expressions. Kent’s Simpsons launched its first still red and white Pinot Meunier, while Gusbourne has launched its first still rosé alongside two limited edition still wines: the Gusbourne Chardonnay 809 2018 and the Gusbourne Pinot Noir Barrel Selection 2018.