er Hambledon Vineyard has purchased additional vineyard spanning 46 acres from Meonhill estate, in a move to expand its production capacity.The purchase also includes certain bulk reserve wine stocks, which will allow Hambledon to extend its reserve wines production.
Of the 46 acres purchased from Meonhill, 11 acres are under vines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, planted on the Champagne trellising system in Meonhill.
Over the next three years, the winemaker plans to conduct test trials to trace the differences between identical clone and rootstock combinations on the Meonhill trellising system and the trellising systems it currently use.
Hambledon Vineyard MD Ian Kellet said, "I am delighted with this acquisition, this expansion is consistent with Hambledon Vineyard's strategy of expanding its sparkling wine vineyards, locally in Hampshire, in order to develop one of the leading English sparkling wine brands.
The estate is slated to launch its first commercial sparkling wine on 6 May 2014, under the Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV brand.
