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Waitrose-owned vineyard receives regenerative certification

30 September 2024 By Louis Thomas

Hampshire’s Leckford Estate, which is owned by supermarket chain Waitrose, has become the first vineyard and orchard in the UK to be certified by Regenified.

The estate, which produces the Leckford Estate Brut (from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier) sold in Waitrose as well as a local cider, was first planted with vines back in 2009.

Not only did this make Waitrose the first supermarket to launch its own UK-grown sparkling wine, but now the retailer can add another first to its list of achievements, with the confirmation of certification through Regenified, a recognition of the estate’s use of regenerative farming practices.

Regenified, founded in 2021, works according to its trademarked 6-3-4 Verification Standard: six principles of soil health, three rules of adaptive stewardship, and four ecosystem processes.

These key points covering everything from avoiding monocultures to maintaining a healthy water cycle.

Among the practices that Leckford Estate has adopted are using mechanical weed trimmers rather than pesticides, and maintaining a diversity of flower species between the rows of vines and apple trees.

The 2,800 acre estate is also home to cattle, fishing lakes and a golf course.

Andrew Hoad, head of Leckford Estate, commented: “Our commitment to regenerative farming reflects our belief that producing high-quality products and caring for the environment go hand in hand. This builds on our regenerative farming journey and we hope to see more farmers embrace similar practices which could lead to certification.”

From the 2024 harvest onwards, Leckford Estate’s drinks can now sport the Certified Regenified seal.

Leckford Estate follows the likes of Maker’s Mark, which became the first distillery in the world to receive Regenified verification in November of last year.

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