Viticulture
Champagne design
If one was listing famous winemaking
regions of Europe, you would perhaps
mention Champagne, Burgundy,
Bordeaux or Tuscany, but the South
East of England would probably not be one
of your initial geographical choices.
However, this perception could be an
error, as English wines, and in particular
the sparkling variety, have in recent years
secured growing worldwide recognition
by winning some of the most prestigious
awards and trophies in international
competitions.
According to the latest data from Wine
GB, the amount of vineyard acreage in the
UK has grown by 150% in the last 10 years
and tripled since the turn of the century.
Approximately 75% of this total (4,749
acres) is in the South East and the sparkling
varieties of grape, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
and Pinot Meunier account for 71% of all
grapevines planted.
“The chalky sub-strata of the South
Downs are identical to that of the
Champagne region of northern France
and so this part of England has the right
conditions and climate to produce some the
best multi-vintage sparkling wines,” says
Phillip Kellett of Hambledon Vineyard.
Located in the heart of Hampshire and in
the village credited with being the cradle of
modern cricket, the Hambledon Vineyard
is said to be England’s oldest commercial
vineyard having been established in 1952.
Phillip’s brother Ian bought the vineyard
in 1999 and has since expanded the
operation so that today it comprises over
200 acres. This is spread over a number
of local sites with each one planted with
the three grape varieties most commonly
used in the production of sparkling wine.
In 2018, the vineyard produced 300,000
bottles of English sparkling wine.
Not wishing to rest on its laurels,
Hambledon Vineyard has plans for further
expansion and part of this scheme involves
the construction of a new wine storage
cellar and visitor centre.
“We want to be able to store up to two
million bottles,” explains Phillip Kellett.
“While the visitor centre will help improve
our wine tasting and tour facilities, which is
another important part of our business.”
The two-storey building has been dug
into a chalk hillside and consists of a lower
level cellar and an upper floor that will
house the visitor facilities and further wine
storage space at the rear of the structure.
As the hillside topography slopes
downwards from the back of the building,
the cellar parts of the structure will be
below ground, as the roof at the rear is
at ground level. The front of the building
meanwhile, protrudes out of the hill.
Partially burying the structure into the
Hambledon is said
to be the UK’s oldest
vineyard
Martin Cooper reports from a Hampshire vineyard that is
expanding its facilities with a steel-framed wine cellar.
FACT FILE
Hambledon Vineyard,
Hampshire
Main client:
Hambledon Vineyard
Architect:
Masser Architects
Structural engineer:
Andrew Waring
Associates
Steelwork contractor:
Builders Beams
Steel tonnage: 200t
22 NSC
April 19
/Construction