A NEW Hampshire vineyard is hoping to produce 18,000 bottles of wine each year.
Woodman Wines in Sparsholt has just been established, but its owners say they are keen to encourage community involvement, engagement and eco-tourism.
Married couple Richard and Chrissie Morse made the decision to convert some of their land into a vineyard just over a year ago.
They are now setting up a tasting room alongside the vineyard as well connections with the local college and hotel, to provide tourists with another reason to visit Winchester.
Having just planted the vines, it won’t be until 2028 that the grapes are of sufficient maturity to produce wine.
Chrissie said Hampshire is becoming an increasingly popular choice for growing vines due to the nutrient rich soil.
She said: “It’s the perfect for landscape for wine, it’s south facing, and all the soil is chalk which is ideal particularly for sparkling wine. The vineyard is right in front of our house and overlooks Winchester.
“We’re definitely about community involvement and engagement and eco-tourism but there are other vineyards in Hampshire, and we’ll hope to link up with them and become part of a Hampshire wine trail. And we’re obviously the newest recruit to that.
“In time we want to offer people the opportunity to sponsor a vine and really get involved.”
Richard added: “We both enjoy a glass of wine and I think we were both thinking about climate change which obviously makes it more and more suitable to use the land for vines but also it is probably a more sustainable way of farming rather than just ploughing up the fields and putting a load of chemicals on.
“There was lots of planning involved with the decision and the first thing we did was take some advice and get the soil tested.
“Our soil report came back and said that it should be perfect for growing grapes - mainly for English Sparkling wine.
"Although it is getting warmer, the climate still isn’t the warmest here. Sparkling wine is more acidic than still wine and that’s why you will find most Hampshire vineyards will make English Sparkling wine. In the hope of warmer summers, we have planted some grapes for rose, still rose wine and we hope to make that as well.”
The couple have branded their business Woodman Wines, inspired by the location of their house and vineyard on Woodman Lane.
They admitted having “little wine knowledge themselves” but will recruit experts to add to the customer experience.
However, the Morses are accustomed to entertaining with their grounds on Woodman Lane already open to the public through the National Gardens Scheme.
Richard and Chrissie are still dependant on getting planning permission for a lot of their ideas.
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Richard said: “I’m not nervous about it but that will be an important hurdle.
“The way we see it is we’re very much creating some local employment and aiding rural tourism around Winchester, and I believe that’s an important part of the city’s plan.”
For more go to woodmanwines.co.uk.
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