The idyllic countryside of the Candover Valley in Hampshire is home to Candover Brook English sparkling wine
The late Lord John Sainsbury began farming the family estate forty years ago. Over the last ten years he and his sons, Mark and Julian, planted vines on the gentle south-facing slope. Candover Brook English sparkling wine is the result of their labours. The chalk stream that runs through the valley is home to the rare English white-clawed crayfish. Both the stream and the crayfish are celebrated in the design of the wine’s label.
BRUT
Candover Brook Brut has been awarded a Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge 2023.
It finds a delicate balance of freshness and richness.
The grapes were hand harvested, whole bunch pressed and vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to retain their youthful fruit character. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation. Wines from the 2018 vintage were blended with 3% reserve wines from a solera dating back to 2011, resulting in additional aromatic complexity.
The blend of the brut is 58% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Noir and 14% Pinot Meunière. Aged for 37 months on lees. 97% from 2018 and 3% of reserve wine.
On the nose, floral notes compliment nutty and toasty overtones. Bubbles are generous without being overwhelming. The palate starts with hints of floral citrus. Then creamy vanilla and orchard fruits on the mid palate. Long, streamline and mineral finish.
“This is one of the most English, stunning, rosés I have tasted”
Matthew Jukes, Vineyard Magazine
ROSÉ
The style of Candover Brook sparkling wine is elegant and refined.
At Candover Brook we grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Our vines, are a mixture of Burgundy and Champagne clones, and are specially selected to suit the soil and climate.
This is the first wine since the vineyard was planted in 2012. Our non-vintage rosé is made up of 85% from the 2018 vintage, and the remainder from a solera grape dating back to 2011. The blend is 54% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 13% Pinot Meunier. Aged on lees for over 27 months in its secondary fermentation.
Candover Brook Rosé has lively aromas of fresh strawberry, cranberry and toasted brioche. On the palate, the creamy mouthfeel and bold mousse are tempered by mouth-watering acidity and vibrant purity of fruit.
SOIL AND LAND
At Candover Brook we tread gently on the land.
For us everything begins with the soil. Like the farmland that surrounds it we manage our vineyard regeneratively. We minimise disturbance to the soil, enrich its biology with continual plant cover and graze sheep among the vines to increase the soil’s organic matter. The natural balance we strive for and the richness of the soil’s biodiversity are reflected in the subtle qualities of Candover Brook wine.
Our vines are planted on five hectares of south-facing slope A free-draining chalky subsoil with a silty clay loam cap. The altitude, 115m to 135m above sea level, helps maintain the perfect temperature and avoid unwanted frost pockets.
“An exciting new name on the English wine scene”
Amy Wislocki, Decanter Magazine
OUR TEAM
The success of Candover Brook is in a large part because of the wonderful team who care for the land, hand pick the grapes and blend our wine.
Some, like Samuel Philippot, have grown up around wine. He was born in the Languedoc region surrounded by vineyards, studied agronomy, viticulture and oenology before a career devoted to the craft.
For others they have discovered a passion for wine working with us at Preston and at peak times up to sixty people work the land. Our hope is to get the local community involved in the work of the vineyard.
“I urge you to track down a bottle and raise a glass”
Matthew Jukes, Vineyard Magazine
