Featured vineyard · Crouch Valley

The Althorne Estate

Nick's favourite English sparkling comes from a single south-facing slope above the River Crouch. Hand-picked, estate-grown fruit, a first harvest in 2019, and wines that sit happily alongside the Champagne houses.

Grape growerOpen to visitorsSparklingStill wine

Visit their website ↗Directions ↗

At a glance

WhereAlthorne, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 6EW

FamilyThe Hollingsbee family

PlantedGround prepared for vines in 2017. An acre of Pinot Gris added in 2019.

First harvest2019

GrapesChardonnay (two Burgundy clones), Pinot Noir (two Burgundy clones), a little Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Gris

GroundClay

SiteAn ideal south-facing slope towards the River Crouch

Who makes the wineNot yet confirmed Estate-grown, hand-picked grapes. We're asking the estate where it's made.

WinesEnglish sparkling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris

VisitingListed as open to the public in the WineGB directory. Check the website before you go.

Ground to glass

The Althorne Estate stayed as a paddock until 2017, when the Hollingsbee family prepared the soil for vines (The Althorne Estate). The clay holds water through dry Essex summers, and the south-facing slope catches the sun. The estate says the Crouch Valley "regularly benefits from the warmest temperatures and lowest rainfall" in the UK, and the site has its own micro-climate.

Clay soils generally give riper, rounder fruit than chalk. Combined with a dry, sunny site, that helps explain the generous orchard fruit Nick finds in the 2019, held together by English acidity.

Why we love it

"Still top of my list for English sparkling and across the Champagne houses." Nick has been drinking the 2019 since it was released, and he's looking forward to the 2020s.

Want to know how ground, grapes and pressing shape the wine? Read Ground and growing and How sparkling is made.

Our reviews

English sparklingNick's favourite