As one of the main local retailers of Hampshire wines, it is a duty for us to assess the quality produced in our beloved county and to promote the best.

While we have proudly been shouting the names of a few wineries at every tasting for a few years now, it is still a very fast-paced developing market where the quality of the wines is changing rapidly.

The recognition of those wines (both national and international) is finally here and it felt good to hear the people representing the wines at the tasting I have joined recently in London, proudly mentioning how one their wines has beaten Dom Pérignon on a blind tasting, or that they couldn’t fit all the awards of the wine on their tables as they were too many of them…

While most of you will probably know, vintage sparkling wines have been the focus and the way to get that maturity and quality in the wine in less than two decades after the first harvest of most of the estate I have tasted, you will probably be happy to discover that there is now a diversification and a widen offer to single grapes or vintage.

Most of those wines are now sold on the American, North European and Asian markets, and while we still have the privilege of the best offers, I can see that the limited quantities and very demanding markets will surely be a problem in the future.

I was impressed by the complexity of all those wines, although 70% tasted were sparkling wines using Champagne traditional production method and grapes I could easily pick up differences and styles.

See below my pick of the tasting, and if you haven’t been able to try this wine then we sell the complete range of Hattingley Valley Wines (Lower Wield) at Caviste.

• Hattingley Valley Classic Cuvee NV :

Beautiful sparkling wine clean and crisp w feeling but with a generous creamy texture. Nice hint of citrus and a sweet touch of spice and brioche, would probably think it’s a champagne if I didn’t know better ! (£26.95 currently on offer, usually £29.95)

GUILLAUME

To read more about all the vineyards of Hampshire visit: www.vineyardsofhampshire.co.uk