Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvee Brut 75cl

Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée Brut 75cl is an exceptional English sparkling wine that proves Hampshire can compete with Champagne on equal terms. The grapes are hand-picked from chalk vineyards in the South Downs – the very same Belemnite chalk found in Champagne’s Côtes des Blancs. The result is a refined, complex sparkling wine with fine, persistent bubbles and remarkable depth. A benchmark for premium English sparkling wine.

Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée Brut Vinification

The craftsmanship behind Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée Brut requires an uncompromising attention to detail. The grapes undergo a rigorous double quality selection, first by hand during harvest in the vineyard, and again immediately before pressing. Vinification takes place in Hambledon’s unique, gravity-fed, state-of-the-art winery. This architectural layout allows the fruit and juice to be moved purely by gravity, minimising mechanical intervention and treating the delicate must as gently as possible.

Blend Details

The final blend is a classic assemblage of 52% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir, and 16% Pinot Meunier, artfully combining two distinct vintages. To add further richness, a small percentage of the reserve wines are barrel-fermented in small, aged French oak casks. Primary fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, where the wine settles for six months before blending and bottling. True to the traditional method, the wine undergoes its secondary fermentation in the bottle and is matured for a minimum of 35 months on its lees in cool cellars dug directly into the Hampshire chalk downs before disgorging.

(If you are hosting a larger gathering or looking for a smaller indulgence, Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée Brut is also available from our cellars in 37.5cl half-bottles and 1.5-litre magnums.)

Hambledon Vineyard: A Hampshire Wine Pioneer

Hambledon Vineyard is England’s oldest commercial vineyard. It was founded in 1952 by Major General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, a trailblazer for English winemaking. The vineyard passed through a couple of owners until Ian Kellett acquired it in 1999.

Ian would eventually go on to study winemaking at Plumpton College and, in 2005, convinced that sparkling wine production was the way forward in the UK, a 10-acre ‘test bed’ of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier on a combination of 27 different vine clones and rootstocks to see which gave the best results. Under Kellet’s leadership, the estate would become one of the very best English sparkling wine producers.

Acquisition by The Symington Family and Berry Bros

In 2023, the estate was acquired by a consortium consisting of the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchants, Berry Bros & Rudd, and Symington Family Estates, owners of Cockburns, Dows, Grahams, Warres et al.

A Wealth of Winemaking Experience

Winemaking at Hambledon Vineyard is led by Hervé Jestin, a legendary figure responsible for crafting over 200 million bottles of Champagne in his illustrious career. Jestin brings unmatched expertise and collaborates with Felix Gabillet, Hambledon’s full-time on-site winemaker, who oversees daily operations with precision and care.

Most recently, the estate achieved a monumental milestone at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards, where the Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV Magnum scooped up a prestigious Gold Medal, scoring a magnificent 95 points, solidifying its standing among the global sparkling elite.

Soil & Terroir: South Downs Chalk & the Champagne Connection

Today, the estate encompasses roughly 200 acres of vineyards spread across 30 individual plots, each boasting distinct microclimates and terroirs clustered around the historic village of Hambledon. The rolling hillsides here sit directly on the South Downs chalk, a geological continuation of the Paris Basin that runs underneath the English Channel and resurfaces in Champagne.

This specific Belemnite chalk was formed on an ancient seabed some 65 million years ago and mirrors the exact soil profile found in the finest Chardonnay sectors of the Côtes des Blancs. Because of this unique terroir, Hambledon considers Chardonnay to be its star-performing grape variety, responsible for imparting the striking, steely minerality found in every glass.

Buy Hambledon Wines at Fareham Wine Cellar

As independent wine merchants trading since 1991, we have proudly championed the local wine revolution from the beginning. Hambledon’s award-winning portfolio includes the Classic Brut, Classic Rosé, Premiere Cuvée Brut, Premiere Cuvée Rosé, and their exquisite Blanc de Blancs.

Are you local to Hampshire? Visit our independent shop at 55 High Street, Fareham, to browse our extensive local sparkling wine shelves in person, or select free Click & Collect at checkout for seamless online ordering.