Jenkyn Place

Few sites can rival Jenkyn Place. Nestled in the North Hampshire Downs near the quintessentially-English village of Bentley, the vineyards cover 12 acres (or around five hectares) of what were once hop fields.

The same greensand soils covering marlstone in which hops once thrived are now nurturing our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the classic grape varieties used to make Champagne. The vineyards sit on sheltered, chalky, south-facing slopes at 100 metres above sea level, making them ideal for growing the high-quality grapes needed to produce top English sparkling wines.

Owner Simon Bladon first vines were planted in 2004, with further vines added in 2007 and 2010. The vineyards are now at full capacity, with their rows filled with some 15,000 vines.

Talented Irish winemaker Dermot Sugrue is the brains behind Jenkyn Place's highly praised wines, buiding on his experience at Nyetimber and Wiston, while Simon admits to being more of an artist than a chemist!