From our vineyard in Hampshire
The chalky south-facing slopes of Hampshire’s picturesque Test Valley are home to five hectares of meticulously tended vines, first planted in 2009. Here on the Leckford Estate, the Waitrose farm, our expert team is dedicated to growing the three classic Champagne grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
By mid to late October when the grapes are ripe yet still high in acidity, they’re hand-picked and taken to be pressed within 24 hours by the award-winning winemaking team at Ridgeview Wine Estate. Once pressed, the wine is bottle-aged for two years in Ridgeview’s cool, dark cellars, resting on the yeast lees to allow the complex, biscuity aromas and flavours to evolve. The result is the Leckford Estate Brut, a fresh, beautifully balanced blend to rival that of top Champagnes.
Once opened, aromas of toasted brioche and hazelnuts give way to a creamy palate with apple and peach flavours. Perfect as an apéritif, Leckford Estate is also very food-friendly and sublime with smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis.