Handcrafting since 2018
Did you know that most wine in England is not mass-produced? Typically it comes from small vineyards like ours that have much lower grape yields than the larger wineries of Europe. And because we are more bijoux, our winemaking techniques are more labour-intensive. Yes, we still have a warehouse full of up-to-date machinery, however, we also take a more hands-on approach to ensure that our winemaking processes, although costly, guarantee a superior quality of our wine. Our handcrafting methods put our wines in the premium price bracket, similar to the vineyards of Provence, whose wines are usually bought from local merchants or directly from the vineyard. Like these wineries, we can ensure you get the best price possible for our wine if you buy direct from us. And like most of the smaller quality vineyards, you can also book a tasting and tour before you buy.
Why now...
Winemaking in England has its roots in the archives stretching back as far as the Romans. The climate in the southern regions combined with a chalky sub-layer beneath our feet has always made winemaking possible. However, since the arrival of two major Champagne Houses in South East England, mainly due to the shift in climate, the confidence and potential to grow better, more rounded-tasting grapes has made a huge difference to the industry. England has become increasingly recognised as a premium wine-producing region, and now more than 450 wineries and around 3.15m bottles are produced each year. With over 23 acres, we are one of the larger hands-on winemakers in the South West.
What we grow...
The most popular grapes varieties growing in English vineyards are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bacchus, Pinot Meunier and Ortega. At Calancombe, our vineyards are filled with over 20,000 vines of mixed varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Precoce, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Bacchus and Madeleine Angevine. Each has been grown for its unique strengths, yield, cultivation possibility and flavour. And once picked the fruit of our vines is blended into what we believe to be five distinctive, easy-to-drink, flavoursome wines which are bottled only a matter of yards from our shop. The last few years have been very productive for us and our latest product is due to be bottled this summer, so watch this space for tasting announcements…
Buy direct by popping into our winery shop or shop online and support our South West handcrafted wine business, prices start from £16