The success of Hampshire-based sparkling winemakers continues to boom. With producers including Hattingley Valley, Hambledon and Exton Park gaining national and international recognition, rewards and boosting the region’s reputation, there is a growing number of quality names in this exciting region of England. Cottonworth are one of the more recent producers on the scene, and they have planted an impressive 30 acres of vines across three sites over the last 10 years since initial plantings on the Liddell family farm in 2005. Like the aforementioned producers, Cottonworth’s focus is also English Sparkling Wine, so the vine plantings are the usual varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (and Precoce) and Pinot Meunier. To paint a bigger picture, Cottonworth Farm is a long established organic arable farming operation and is an estate spanning over 1,000 Acres and four generations of the Liddell family.
We begin our visit to Cottonworth by sitting down with owner Hugh Liddell and his wife Rosie to chat over one of their famous winemaker's lunches. A delicious spread of cold meats, cheese, bread and salad is accompanied by generous pourings of Cottonworths’s fresh and delicious Classic Cuvée and Rosé Sparkling in the comfy surroundings of a tastefully converted barn. We learn about Hugh’s winemaking journey. Formerly producing wine in Burgundy in the early 2000’s, here he learnt the importance of the synergy between man and vine. Now back in England, it is easy to see Hugh’s passion for winemaking. He explains to us how England’s ever unrealiable weather brings new challenges each year; this is what makes producing top notch English Sparkling all the more a rewarding experience. Whilst initial vintages of Cottonworth wines were in fact produced on site, the winemaking is now handled in partnership with Emma Rice and her team at Hattingley Valley. This is once again a great demonstration of the English Wine industry's resourcefulness and talent sharing approach.
After a thoroughly enjoyable lunch we walk around to one of the plots of vines known as ‘The Vine Maze’. Here a uniquely planted loop of five rows of vines vines sits around a central open space. This space is designed with events, weddings and other functions in mind. We will have the chance to experience this in full effect later in the year when Cottonworth host the Vineyards of Hampshire Festival on Sunday 23rd July, of which tickets are available to buy right now.
