A SUCCESSFUL vineyard is celebrating 25 years of producing top-quality English wine.

Danebury Vineyard is one of the longest established vineyards in the UK, and is located on the former site of an historical prestigious racehorse training yard near Stockbridge.

The seven-acre boutique vineyard produces three white wines – Madeleine Angevine, Schonburger, Reserve and Cossack, a sparkling brut, named after the 1846 Derby winning horse that trained onsite.

Caroline Stevens, sales and marketing manager, said: “The vines were planted in 1988 and our first harvest was in 1993 because you have to wait four to five years.

“When it was first planted they didn’t realise that England had the climate to grow sparkling wine grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. So our wines are the traditional English variety.”

The grapes used are the adaptable Madeleine Angevine and Schonburger for the stills and Auxerrois Blanc and Pinot Gris for the sparkling.

Following harvest, the grapes are transported to winemaker Vince Gower at Stanlake Park, who ensures the quality is consistent and their style is up-to-date.

The vineyard produces between 15,000 and 20,000 bottles each year, and everything is done by hand, with volunteers from the local village coming to the vineyard for the day to harvest the grapes.

“We follow organic principles,” explained Caroline, “And we harvest by hand, so anything that’s not grown properly or isn’t quite right will be picked out before the volunteers come to harvest.”

Danebury supplies local restaurants and pubs, including the White Horse Brasserie in Romsey and The Weyhill Farm Shop in Andover, as well as the luxury hotel and spa, Chewton Glen, in New Milton.

To mark the start of their special milestone year, Danebury held a summer tea dance in the vineyard, inviting friends and trade customers along to join in the celebrations.

A swing band and harpist entertained more than 100 guests, who also enjoyed tea and cakes in a marquee.

On reaching the milestone anniversary, Caroline said: “We are delighted that we have been so well supported by our friends and customers. For such a small vineyard we punch above our weight. Every time I tell our wine maker we have won an award, he tells me that it’s down to the quality of the fruit that he gets from our vines.”

Danebury has won numerous awards for its wines, with an unbroken record of silver and bronze.

The vineyard is a member of Vineyards of Hampshire, which is holding a festival on July 22 from 12pm to 4.30pm at Raimes Vineyard, Hinton Ampner, in Alresford.

Caroline, who has co-organised the event, said: “Every year the Vineyards of Hampshire wine festival attracts increasing numbers of wine and food lovers. It is a wonderful day out tasting, purchasing and learning about English wine at a quintessential English vineyard.”

Danebury wines are available to purchase directly via danebury.com.