Black Chalk

The idea for Black Chalk Winery emerged in 2009 during a dinner with family and friends, when winemaker Jacob Leadley decided to make sparkling wines from the very best local grape varieties in small volumes. From there, wine production grew in the same spirit, very much a labour of love from the award-winning winemaker together with family and friends. It all began in 2015 when small batches of traditionally produced sparkling wines first saw the light of day, initially using grapes purchased from local Hampshire vineyards. After four years of buying grapes, the producer took over 12 hectares of established vineyards across three sites in the beautiful Test Valley, Hampshire. Across these vineyards, 34 different clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Précoce, and Pinot Gris are cultivated. From the resulting base wines, small batches of various sparkling wines and one still wine are created. The focus lies on craftsmanship as well as the special terroir of the area; the chalk-rich soil contributes a purity to the wines that must be considered a hallmark of quality.