Fizz, Feasts and Festivities: Our English Wine Week Highlights | 21st - 29th June 2025
English Wine Week was first launched in 2006 with a simple aim: to raise awareness and appreciation for homegrown wines. Fast forward 18 years, and it’s safe to say that English wine has found its voice, and it’s being heard far and wide.
With over 1,000 vineyards now planted across the UK, and new ones emerging all the time, the category is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. English sparkling wines are now poured at some of the country’s most celebrated events, from Wimbledon to Badminton Horse Trials and Glyndebourne to Glastonbury.
Here at Hattingley, we’re proud to see our wines in some truly iconic British locations, from the hallowed aisles of Waitrose to the lofty views of The Shard, London, and even at 30,000 feet in British Airways Business Class (served with a knowing nod from cabin crew!). Gone are the days when English wine was the underdog; today, it’s playing with the big names in business.
We’ve proudly marked English Wine Week for many years with a blend of trade tastings and tour promotions. But in 2025, we decided to raise the bar. This year, we ran the festivities almost every day of the week, from public open days across the weekend, to dedicated trade and press events midweek, and finishing in style with a grand finale at the Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest. It’s fair to say, we’ve had our hands full, in the very best way.
Join us as we take a look back at our most exciting English Wine Week yet, and why we felt 2025 was the perfect year to roll out the red carpet.
Creating New Traditions
WineGB is the driving force behind English Wine Week, which each year revolves around a new theme. In 2025, the theme was ‘Create New Traditions’, a campaign designed to encourage people to make English wine a part of their celebrations and everyday moments, while highlighting the innovation and exceptional quality of English winemaking.
This month marks a special milestone for us, as our head winemaker, Rob MacCulloch, celebrates his third anniversary at Hattingley Valley. It’s fair to say the initial learning curve is behind us, and Rob has made his mark on our wines. And while it will still be some time before Rob’s own signature vintages reach the shelves, our seasoned team and growing brand awareness make now the perfect time to shine a spotlight on our journey, as we open a new chapter defined by confidence, dedication, and growth.
Weekend Warm-Up: Saturday & Sunday
To kick off English Wine Week in proper Hattingley style, we opened our gates, not just to the winery, but to our usually off-limits vineyard too. Guests were welcomed by our owner and chairman, Simon Robinson, before heading up to the vineyard for a walk-and-talk on the growing season, with vineyard manager Colin Hayward.
A real highlight of the day was a special base wine tasting with Head Winemaker Rob, offering guests the rare chance to step into the winemaker’s shoes. They sampled the core components of our Classic Reserve, with the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier varieties, getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the art of blending. For many, it was their first taste of base wine: bright, acidic, and surprisingly enjoyable.
The day wrapped up back at the winery with a behind-the-scenes tour, followed by a tasting of our core range paired with local cheeses in our beautiful barrel barn. It was a brilliant start to the week, relaxed, insightful, and the perfect way to share the Hattingley story with our guests.
Midweek Moments
Monday saw us welcome 40 of our valued trade partners for a day of thanks and a bit of friendly competition. After a tour of the winery, they took part in a blending masterclass led by Rob. In small teams, they created their own base wine blends, aiming to strike the perfect balance of character and style. Rob judged the entries, and the winning team took home a magnum of Classic Reserve each and plenty of bragging rights!
Afterwards, it was off to the vineyard for a barbecue lunch courtesy of Grate Fire Kitchen. With trout nailed to wooden boards, whole chickens on the grill, and a sunny vineyard backdrop, the atmosphere was as good as the food.
On Tuesday, we hosted a special press day, welcoming the likes of Oz Clarke, Henry Jeffreys, and Jo Gilbert. Guests arrived in style thanks to our new partnership with Blacklane Cars, then enjoyed technical tastings and blending sessions with Rob, along with one-on-one time with owner and chairman Simon Robinson and the wider team. The day ended with relaxed picnic food and fizz in the vineyard, featuring a taste of our newly released Entice dessert wine.
Elsewhere, our trade team was busy across the South, including a brilliant evening at Stanwell House Hotel in Lymington, pairing our range of wines with delicious seasonal sharing boards. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our team for flying the Hattingley flag far and wide.
Fizz Fuelled Finale: Friday and Sunday
To round off the week, we hosted one final Public Open Day on Friday 27th, giving our guests one last chance to explore behind the scenes at our winery and vineyard. The day ended on a high with a relaxed celebration in the winery yard, complete with sizzling barbecue dishes and toasted sandwiches, all courtesy of the brilliant Grate Fire Kitchen. With the sun shining and glasses of Hattingley fizz in hand, it was the perfect send-off for a week of celebrations at home.
On Sunday, English Wine Week came to a close with the annual Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest, a joyful gathering of local producers and wine lovers alike. This year’s event was held at the beautiful Raimes Vineyard, a stunning open-air setting made even better by the glorious summer weather. And really, what better way to wrap up the week than by raising a glass to our beloved growing region of Hampshire!
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A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us throughout English Wine Week, whether you visited the winery, raised a glass at an event, or supported us from afar. It was a true pleasure to welcome so many guests and share what makes Hattingley so special.
And of course, none of it would have been possible without the incredible dedication and energy of the entire Hattingley team, thank you for making this our most ambitious and joyful English Wine Week yet. Here's to doing it all again next year!
Cheers! 🍾
