Had it not been for a discovery in a dilapidated greenhouse Helenka and William Brown wouldn't be where they are now - about to host the first ever wine tasting fayre on a Nottinghamshire vineyard. Hanwell Wine Estate, in Hickling Pastures, South Notts, on the Leicestershire border, is celebrating it tenth anniversary but it all started back in the 1970s when Helenka's parents moved into their new family home in West Bridgford.
They found a single vine in a derelict greenhouse, which put Tony and Veronica Skuriat on a life-changing path. It inspired them to venture into the world of wine production, officially opening Eglantine Vineyard in Costock in 1979 with the title of the most northerly commercial vineyard in the world in the mid-1980s.
Helenka said: "When my father first decided to plant a vineyard here in the East Midlands back in the 1970s, people laughed and thought it couldn’t be done." How wrong the doubters were. After 20 years of trialling more than 250 varieties of grapes, Tony was able to produce award-winning wines.
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Following in the family footsteps, Helenka and her husband William founded Hanwell Wine Estate in 2012 - the name Hanwell being a fusion of their children’s names. They specialise in English sparkling wine using the traditional champagne method. Sparkling wine can only be called champagne if its origins are from the region of Champagne, France, and made with Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes grown in the region.
The same grapes were first harvested in 2015 at Hanwell, resulting in the launch of its first sparkling wine in 2018. Today, the estate boasts around 8,000 vines that are lovingly tended to by the family and supported by a team of local employees and volunteers.
The county's first ever wine tasting at a vineyard will take place on Saturday, June 18, from 2pm to 9pm. Wine and food lovers are invited to sample more than 50 wines, craft beer, cider and gin, and a selection of local food in the picturesque setting of the wine estate. The event will showcase Nottinghamshire’s wine credentials, including Hanwell’s own quality Nottinghamshire sparkling wine through to an ice wine with a history of awards from its parent vineyard.
Tasters of English wines representing Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire will be available to try and buy. A variety of fine wines from regions such as France, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Australia can also be sampled. Live music from local musicians will provide the soundtrack for the event.
Hanwell has become a destination vineyard offering tours and tasting experiences, a self-guided vineyard and nature trail, free blackberry picking in August, corporate and private hire and a variety of rural arts and crafts workshops. Its on-site cafe provides an array of home cooked light bites and cakes, including afternoon tea and a sparkling picnic. Even the harvest in October is a community affair, with volunteers welcomed and a harvest supper served at the end of the day.
Helenka said: "With Hanwell we want to continue this tradition of producing world-class English wine and invite people to be part of the experience by joining us for a tasting, tour or simply a picnic in the beautiful countryside. We look forward to welcoming people to our wine fayre and celebrating the amazing wine and produce that this region has to offer.”
A variety of ticket options for the event - and camping spots in the Hanwell Wine Estate’s grounds for those who wish to stay overnight - are available to book via the vineyard’s official website, with prices for adult ticket holders starting from £34 for an Early Bird Access All Areas (AAA) ticket. General admission starts from £19, while under 18s go free but need to be accompanied by an adult aged 25+.
Visitors who purchase a ticket that includes the wine tasting option will be able to choose from three different slots: 2-4pm, 3-5pm or 4-6pm. Tastings are limited to AAA ticket holders, and bars will be open for wine by the glass and by the bottle from 2-6pm. To book tickets and for further information visit hanwellwine.co.uk
