Althorne Estate Vineyard

The Althorne Estate is one of Essex's quietly remarkable English wine producers. Set in the Crouch Valley on a south-facing slope above the River Crouch, this six-acre family vineyard has, in the space of a few short years, transformed from a former apple orchard into a multi-award-winning estate whose bottles are now poured at some of the best restaurants and bars in the UK. Every grape that goes into an Althorne Estate wine is grown, handpicked and vinified on the single estate, and the resulting portfolio of traditional-method sparkling wines, still Chardonnays, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris has earned the admiration of leading critics including Jancis Robinson and The Telegraph.

The Story of The Althorne Estate

The Althorne Estate vineyard is the work of the Hollingsbee family, who arrived at the site with a clear vision: to make the very best wines that the Crouch Valley could produce. Their land, however, was not always vineyard. For many years the plot was an apple orchard, and from the 1970s onwards it was simply a paddock. It was not until 2017 that the soil was finally prepared for planting vines, and the first Burgundian clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, along with a small planting of Pinot Meunier, went into the ground.

In 2019, an additional acre of Pinot Gris was added to complete the estate's palette of cool-climate varieties. Two years later, in 2019, the first harvest came off the vines. That fruit was used to produce the estate's English Sparkling Wine, which went on to win the Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine at Wine GB in the Eastern Region in 2022 - a remarkable achievement for such a young vineyard.

A Family with a Passion for Wine

Bob Hollingsbee, the owner of the estate, has been the driving force behind the vineyard's rapid rise. His winemaker, Liam, was instrumental in shaping the early vintages and helping to put the estate on the map with critics. The Hollingsbee family's philosophy is straightforward: choose only the finest grapes, handpick at exactly the right moment, and let the unique Crouch Valley micro-climate do the rest.

Location, Soil and Micro-Climate

The Althorne Estate sits within the Crouch Valley in Essex, a part of the UK that regularly benefits from the warmest temperatures and the lowest rainfall in the country. The vineyard enjoys an ideal south-facing slope towards the River Crouch, which creates a unique micro-climate perfectly suited to growing classic Champagne varieties and other cool-climate grapes.

The clay soil at Althorne is another key ingredient in the estate's signature style. Clay retains moisture through the dry Essex summers while also imparting structure and minerality to the wines. Combined with the maritime influence of the nearby river and the long, sun-drenched south-facing aspect, the site produces grapes of remarkable concentration and balance.

Grape Varieties Planted

The six-acre vineyard is planted with the following varieties:

• Chardonnay - two Burgundian clones, forming the backbone of the sparkling wines and the still Chardonnay range.
• Pinot Noir - two Burgundian clones, used both in the Classic Cuvee sparkling blend and as a single-variety still red.
• Pinot Meunier - a small planting that adds roundness and fruit character to the sparkling wines.
• Pinot Gris - an additional acre planted in 2019, used for both the still Pinot Gris and as a component in the Chardonnay/Pinot Gris blend.

Winemaking Philosophy

From the outset, the Hollingsbee family made a deliberate choice to use only estate-grown grapes in their wines. There is no bulk purchase, no blending in fruit from elsewhere - every bottle of Althorne Estate wine begins life on that single six-acre block above the Crouch.

Handpicked Grapes

All grapes at Althorne are handpicked at exactly the right time to produce the finest quality. Hand harvesting allows the team to select only the healthiest, ripest bunches and to keep the fruit intact on its journey from vine to winery, which is essential for the precision aromatics of the estate's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

French Oak and Patience

The whites - particularly the Chardonnays - are lightly oaked in French oak barrels, often for around 18 months, before being bottled under cork and given further time to mature. The sparkling wines are made by the traditional method, with extended lees ageing contributing depth, complexity and the fine, persistent mousse that characterises the Classic Cuvee style.

From Sparkling to Still

The original intention at Althorne was to focus solely on English Sparkling Wine. It soon became clear, however, that the quality of the estate's grapes would allow the team to make world-class still wines too. The portfolio gradually expanded to include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, each crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail.

The Althorne Estate Wine Collection

The current Althorne Estate range is a compact, focused collection that showcases the very best of the Crouch Valley. All wines are available to buy directly from the estate's online shop, with free delivery offered via the FREESHIPPING promotional code.

English Sparkling Wine, Classic Cuvee 2019

The wine that announced Althorne Estate to the wider English wine world. The 2019 Classic Cuvee is a traditional-method blend of the estate's handpicked Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. On the nose and palate it offers fresh, dry notes of stone fruit, almond and peach, with a medium copper hue. It was crowned Trophy winner for Best Sparkling Wine at Wine GB in the Eastern Region in 2022, and at 12.5% ABV it is benchmark Essex fizz.

• Price: £35.00 per bottle
• ABV: 12.5%
• View the English Sparkling Wine, Classic Cuvee 2019

English Sparkling Rose, Classic Cuvee 2019

The pink counterpart to the Classic Cuvee, made from the same blend of estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. Summer berry fruits and floral notes come through on the nose, with a fresh green apple acidity and a fresh raspberry note on the palate. A lively, food-friendly English sparkling rose at 12.5% ABV.

• Price: £35.00 per bottle
• ABV: 12.5%
• View the English Sparkling Rose, Classic Cuvee 2019

English Sparkling Wine, Classic Cuvee 2020

The follow-up vintage to the trophy-winning 2019. The 2020 Classic Cuvee is a traditional-method blend of handpicked Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Fresh and dry, with notes of stone fruit, almond and peach, it offers a clear sense of the estate's house style - precise, poised and distinctly English. At £30.00 per bottle it represents exceptional value for a single-estate traditional-method sparkling wine.

• Price: £30.00 per bottle
• ABV: 12.5%
• View the English Sparkling Wine, Classic Cuvee 2020

Chardonnay, 2020

The estate's debut still Chardonnay, made from 100% estate-grown Chardonnay grapes and lightly oaked in French oak barrels for 18 months before being matured under cork for three years. The result is a wine of real poise: white flowers, honey and orange zest on the nose, leading to mouthwatering acidity, a delightful texture and buttery richness on the palate. At 13% ABV it is a serious English Chardonnay that has been compared to fine white Burgundy by leading critics.

• Price: £35.00 per bottle
• ABV: 13%
• View the Chardonnay, 2020

Chardonnay, 2021

The 2021 vintage of Althorne's single-variety Chardonnay, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes and lightly oaked in French oak barrels. White flowers, honey and orange zest on the nose; mouthwatering acidity, delightful texture and buttery richness on the palate. 13.5% ABV. This vintage drew particularly effusive praise from the national critics.

• Price: £35.00 per bottle (currently sold out)
• ABV: 13.5%
• View the Chardonnay, 2021

Chardonnay, 2022

The newest of the estate's still Chardonnays at the time of release, the 2022 continues the house style: 100% Chardonnay, lightly oaked in French oak barrels, with white flowers, honey and orange zest on the nose and the same mouthwatering acidity, delightful texture and buttery richness that have become the Althorne signature. 13.5% ABV. Like the 2021, this vintage has sold through quickly.

• Price: £35.00 per bottle (currently sold out)
• ABV: 13.5%
• View the Chardonnay, 2022

Pinot Noir, 2020

Althorne's single-variety still red, made from handpicked Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and lightly oaked in French oak barrels. Aromas of cherry, cranberry and black peppercorns on the nose give way to red berries, deep black fruit tones and fine, silky tannins on the palate. At 12.5% ABV it is a remarkably Burgundian take on Pinot Noir - one critic described it as "more like a nice village Beaune" - and it will continue to gain complexity over the coming years.

• Price: £35.00 per bottle (currently sold out)
• ABV: 12.5%
• View the Pinot Noir, 2020

Chardonnay/Pinot Gris, 2020

A thoughtfully composed white blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Gris. Ripe stone fruit sits alongside subtle vanilla and toasted hazelnut notes, with crunchy green apples and citrus on the palate leading to a full, creamy peach and baked apple finish. At 13.5% ABV and just £25.00 per bottle, this is one of the best-value bottles in the Althorne range - an accessible, food-friendly introduction to the estate's still whites.

• Price: £25.00 per bottle
• ABV: 13.5%
• View the Chardonnay/Pinot Gris, 2020

Pinot Gris, 2023

The most recent still white release from the estate. Made from 100% Pinot Gris grapes and lightly oaked in French oak barrels, it is classically styled with a gentle fragrance of cream, white fruits and flowers. A refreshing mineral acidity and a long finish round off a wine that showcases the quality of the Pinot Gris planted in 2019. 13.5% ABV. At £25.00 per bottle it offers remarkable quality for the price.

• Price: £25.00 per bottle
• ABV: 13.5%
• View the Pinot Gris, 2023

The Winemakers Collection Gift Sets

For those looking to give the gift of English wine - or simply to enjoy a curated selection themselves - Althorne Estate offers two Winemakers Collection gift sets, both priced at £70.00 and offering a saving over buying the bottles individually. Use the code FREESHIPPING at the checkout for free delivery.

Winemakers Collection - Classic Cuvee

The Classic Cuvee gift set brings together three bottles of English wine from the single estate:

• English Sparkling Wine Classic Cuvee 2020
• Pinot Gris 2023
• Pinot Gris/Chardonnay 2020

Priced at £70.00, this set offers a £10 saving over buying the bottles individually and showcases the breadth of the Althorne range - fizz, aromatic white and a fuller Chardonnay-led blend. View the Winemakers Collection - Classic Cuvee gift set.

Winemakers Collection - Sparkling Rose

The Sparkling Rose gift set puts the estate's pink fizz centre stage, alongside two still whites:

• English Sparkling Rose 2019
• Pinot Gris 2023
• Pinot Gris/Chardonnay 2020

Priced at £70.00, this set offers a £15 saving over buying the bottles individually. View the Winemakers Collection - Sparkling Rose gift set.

Reviews and Critical Acclaim

The Althorne Estate's reputation has been built not just on its trophy at Wine GB, but on a string of glowing reviews from some of the most respected voices in wine writing. The estate's Chardonnay in particular has drawn extraordinary praise.

Tamlyn Currin for Jancis Robinson

Tamlyn Currin awarded the Althorne Estate Chardonnay 2021 a score of 17.5 points and wrote at length about its evolution in the glass: "This is rather exciting for an English Chardonnay. I'd love to taste it blind with a range of cool-climate Chardonnays... It starts tight, fist clenched, quarry closed. Then it starts to develop, amplify, fruit seeps through the cracks of the minutes of time, and suddenly the glass is suffused with orange juice and light and the craquelure of match smoke. Very, very exciting wine. Could this be one of the best English Chardonnays yet? Time for blind tasting, I think."

John Mobbs, Great British Wine

John Mobbs of Great British Wine described the Chardonnay 2022 as "a hugely exciting Chardonnay from an estate that has a lot of potential. On the nose honeysuckle, green apple, tangerine and lemon with a distinctive mineral and struck match (almost Puligny-esque?). On the palate, crunchy orchard fruit with taught lemon and blood orange, which evolves to peach and fine oatmeal textures. This is both sophisticated and nuanced and has made an incredibly memorable first impression on me."

Victoria Moore for The Telegraph Magazine

Victoria Moore wrote that the Chardonnay 2021 is "Gently oaked, this combines bright acidity and a light swing with star fruit, honey and autumnal apple" - a succinct description that captures the wine's balance of freshness and texture.

Robin Davis, Swig Wines

Robin Davis of Swig Wines discovered Althorne after being sent a bottle of the 2020 Chardonnay by winemaker Liam, and was instantly converted. He returned to taste the 2021 vintage, opened one bottle immediately and was stunned by the nose and quality, opening the second with lobsters caught from his local beach. Summarising the Pinot Noir 2020, Davis wrote: "Bourgogne Pinot Noir, more like a nice village Beaune. It's lovely, smooth and interesting. It's just so wonderful that it comes from England. It's drinking well now. The tannins are really easy. The acidity is not too high. It will get more complex over the next two years. What a find!"

Vivino

On Vivino, drinkers have called the English Sparkling Wine Classic Cuvee 2019 "Absolutely stunning. Beautifully crisp and dry with citrus and green apple flavours. Very satisfying to know that such good sparkling wine is made just around the corner."

Visiting and Contacting The Althorne Estate

Althorne Estate is based in the Crouch Valley in Essex. For visitors, lovers of English wine, and trade enquiries, the estate can be contacted directly via email or phone:

• Email: info@althorneestate.com
• Phone: 07736 276262

The estate runs tastings and special events throughout the year. Visitors and trade can keep up to date with the latest news, vintages and releases by following the estate on Facebook and Instagram.

Why The Althorne Estate Matters

In less than a decade, the Hollingsbee family has taken a former Essex apple orchard and turned it into one of the most exciting single-estate vineyards in the country. The combination of a uniquely warm, dry Crouch Valley micro-climate, south-facing clay soils, Burgundian clones, hand harvesting and patient French oak elevage produces wines of a quality that has set critics talking and sommeliers ordering. From the trophy-winning Classic Cuvee to the deeply Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Althorne Estate range is proof that the very best of English wine is being made not just in the traditional heartlands, but in the hidden corners of Essex too.

Whether you are looking for a traditional-method English sparkling wine for a celebration, a serious still Chardonnay to rival a white Burgundy, or a beautifully judged Pinot Noir to pair with game or rich fish, the Althorne Estate portfolio is well worth exploring. Bottles can be ordered directly from the Althorne Estate shop, with free delivery available using the FREESHIPPING code.