A trio of Hampshire vineyard delights

Hampshire’s wine tourism has so much to offer. Over 48 hours we experienced three distinct vineyards / wineries – enjoying them all for different reasons.    

Basing ourselves in Andover we were a short taxi ride from our first stop – Black Chalk Wine.  We started with the self-guided vineyard tour. Armed with a map we set off to explore at our own pace. There are QR codes at various points on the route which can be scanned to access audio giving you information about the site. The views from The Rivers vineyard are stunning and we were happy to stay up there admiring the vines and surrounding countryside.

We’d also booked a table for the evening. Friday Night Lates are clearly popular, and it’s easy to see why. The tasting room and terrace were buzzing with people, and the whole place had a brilliant energy. A food truck was parked up outside, with a steady flow of visitors, and with wines available by the bottle or glass you can settle in for the evening. There was a real mix of visitors – families, couples, groups of friends – all enjoying themselves. Friday Night Lates run weekly from April – Sept.

On Saturday we had a guided tour booked at Hattingley Valley near Alresford. We got a train to Basingstoke and then took a taxi into the depths of rural Hampshire. This is an informative look behind the scenes at the winery (you don’t visit the vines) alongside a tasting of four fabulous wines from Hattingley’s portfolio. We had the unique opportunity to hear the Hattingley story direct from the founder, Simon Robinson, who shared his knowledge of English wines. A short walk from the winery is The Yew Tree pub where you can continue to enjoy Hattingley wines. We met people who had combined visits of Raimes English Sparkling and Hattingley as they are 25 minutes apart by taxi.   

With a small window on Sunday morning to grab brunch, Penn Croft Cellar Door Café fitted the bill perfectly. It had a rustic charm and Mediterranean feel (although that was probably helped by the pure blue skies). Smoked salmon and avo on toast washed down with a glass of fizz has to be the perfect Sunday treat. It welcomed walk-ins and was extremely popular. There are walking trails nearby and a map can be downloaded from their website for a self-guided tour.

This really was a fantastic weekend showcasing what Hampshire’s vineyards have to offer. Whether you’re looking for a chilled-out vibe or something more structured you’re sure to have a good time and discover some superb wines.   

Check out details of Hampshire Vineyards using the vineyard finder.