Black Dog Hill Wines Partnership

Black Dog Hill Vineyard: Family-Run English Sparkling Wines on the South Downs

Black Dog Hill Vineyard: A Family Affair on the South Downs

Perched at the foot of the South Downs, in the heart of what is now the South Downs National Park, Black Dog Hill Vineyard is a quietly remarkable English sparkling wine producer. Founded and run by three generations of the Nolan family, the vineyard sits in the chalky folds of the Sussex countryside below the 830ft Ditchling Beacon, where the vines are sheltered from the worst of the British weather and grow happily in soil littered with prehistoric sea fossils. It is a family affair, a hillside steeped in folklore, and a winery that, vintage after vintage, has earned a place among the very best producers of English fizz.

The Land: Where Chalk, Fossils and Maritime Climate Meet

The story of Black Dog Hill begins with the land itself. The Nolan family had lived on the site for three generations before they planted a single vine, and it was the combination of geology, geography and a benign maritime climate that persuaded them to turn a corner of the family home into a vineyard in 2007. Today the vines thrive in true chalky soil - the same seam of Cretaceous chalk that runs beneath Champagne - and the plateau above plays host to the vineyard's namesake and guardian, the Ditchling Beacon.

The climate, the slope, the aspect and the chalk together create the rarest of combinations: a site that can stand comparison with the great sparkling wine regions of the world. Working in sympathy with that landscape, the Nolan family are producing wines that, in their own words, can "rub shoulders with the very best on the international stage."

The Legend of the Black Dog

Long before the vines were planted, the hill already had a name and a reputation. For more than a thousand years, the locals of Westmeston and Ditchling have spoken of a ghostly black dog that roams the area, bearing the souls of the departed to their resting place in the next world. Some called it the wish hound; others believed it could only be seen by other dogs. The shepherds who once grazed their flocks high on the downland told of how their own sheepdogs would lie down and look to the heavens when the black dog was passing overhead.

Today the shepherds are no more, but the legend remains - and so do the sightings. There are still reports along the Downs of the phantom hound conducting its ghostly duty, but nowhere more so than on the hill that bears its name.

The Wines: Vintage Sparkling from Classic Champagne Grapes

Black Dog Hill Vineyard makes vintage sparkling wines only. Each unique vintage is created in this stunning location and reflects the passion and commitment of the whole family. The vines are planted with the three classic Champagne varieties, namely Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, selected to produce a wine with the perfect balance and fruit characteristics of a classic sparkling wine. Because only the estate's own grapes are used, the family and their winemaker, Dermot Sugrue, have complete control over the result, evidenced by the multiple awards achieved by the very first vintage.

Classic Cuvée

The flagship blend of the range, the Classic Cuvée is a 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier marriage that has become the calling card of the estate. Each vintage is disgorged by hand and aged on its lees for several years to develop the savoury, biscuity complexity that defines the style.

Classic Cuvée 2019 at £42.00 - the current release, capturing the splendid 2018 summer with a toasty, energetic finish.
Classic Cuvée 2016 - a very limited edition described as a wine of superb structure and length, with balance and precision from a wonderful year for all three varieties; aged four years on lees.
Classic Cuvée 2014 at £85 - limited stock; arguably the best vintage since 2011, with fragrant apple blossom, citrus, brioche and biscuit aromas, elegant structure and impressive length.
Classic Cuvée 2013 - disgorged in April 2018, with extra time on the lees lending texture, depth and greater savoury complexity; pairs beautifully with roast turkey or seafood.
Classic Cuvée 2011 at £89.00 - limited to one bottle per order; the brilliant warm Indian summer of 2011 produced this award-winning first vintage, disgorged in March 2015 after 33 months on lees, with rich Pinot fruit, vivid acidity and a hazelnut-and-brioche finish.

Blanc de Blancs

Made from 100% Chardonnay, the Blanc de Blancs is the racy, mineral counterpoint to the Classic Cuvée. Each release is a study in precision and length.

Blanc de Blancs 2018 at £48 - laser-like precision with bright citrus, fresh green apple, exotic jasmine and savoury, yeasty aromas wrapped around a core of acidic structure; extraordinarily long with very fine bones.
Blanc de Blancs 2015 - currently sold out; a brilliant vintage with the same citrus-and-brioche profile and an almost architectural finish.
Blanc de Blancs 2014 at £85 - pale, shimmering gold with aromas of freshly crushed ripe green apples, lemon zest, quince jelly and fresh ginger; bone dry, beautifully balanced with superb length.

Rosé

Made in tiny quantities from 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier, the Black Dog Hill Rosé is a wine of real structure and a long, elegant finish.

Rosé 2017 at £42 - pale pink with a long elegant finish and wonderful notes of strawberry and peach.
Rosé 2015 at £59 - the first Black Dog Hill Rosé, a gorgeous copper colour with a long, elegant finish.

The Family Behind the Vineyard

Black Dog Hill is all about two things - wine and family. The current custodians include three generations living and working on the same patch of Sussex downland.

Jim Nolan - CEO & Founder. Ditchling-born and bred, Jim was raised in the village by his parents and now brings up his four sons there. They all play sport for the village and his children represent the county at cricket. After 25 years in the City of London, he has returned to his roots to blend his business acumen with a love of wine and a profound affection for the Sussex countryside. His parents-in-law work on the vineyard, making this a true three-generation affair.
Anja Nolan - Managing Director. The keeper of the Black Dog Hill flame, Anja is acutely aware of the team's responsibility to the local area and is a champion of balancing modern winemaking techniques with respect for the landscape and its local history. She attended the world-renowned Plumpton College.
Ray Heasman - Managing Director. The business brain of the operation, Ray's civil engineering background has enabled all the construction - from the first trellising to the last deer fence post - to be done with sympathy and efficiency.
Gunvor Heasman - Marketing Advisor. With 30 years of experience in Sussex and upmarket London retailing, Gunvor provides advice on marketing, labelling and PR.
Dermot Sugrue - Winemaker. A star in the English wine firmament, Dermot has worked extensively in France and the UK and set up the innovative new winery at Wiston in West Sussex in 2010. Widely renowned as one of the UK's leading winemakers, his knowledge and profound love for his art are a pleasure to behold.
Mike Nolan - Director of sales, marketing and investor relations. Mike brings a wealth of experience as CEO of Product of the Year.
The Boys - The Pickers. Hamish, Oliver, Rufus and Connor have been brought up with the vineyard. They are the backbone and future of Black Dog Hill, and their love and pride of the place means it will be in safe hands.

Recent News and Highlights

The vineyard runs an "On the Vine" news blog. Recent stories include:

Sparkling Wine of Choice on Board Discerning Superyachts. With grape picking complete in Sussex, the vineyard reported that potential alcohol was the best since 2011, with sugars and acidity at ideal levels. Founder Jim Nolan noted that the 2020 harvest had actually fared better than most in the region despite poor weather during flowering and hard attack by birds and beasts.
Celebrate Prince Harry Becoming the Duke of Sussex. When Prince Harry became the Duke of Sussex, the vineyard was rightly proud that its wines were the pride of the Royal county.
Chienoir by Bedeaux for Black Dog Hill Vineyard. A fresh, vibrant perfume reflecting the landscape of the vineyard - a spectrum of green vines, white flowers and the deep, chalky earth of the South Downs. Created in collaboration with Bedeaux, the first limited edition of sixty bottles each carries a unique label hand marbled using the ancient Japanese art of Suminagashi, presented in a handmade silk bag with a print of an original Amanda Beadle watercolour of the vineyard.

Shop the Range

The full collection can be bought online through the Black Dog Hill online shop, with free shipping offered on orders over £100. The current range includes:

Vintage Wines: Blanc de Blancs from £48, Rosé from £42 and Classic Cuvée from £42.
By the Case: Six-bottle cases of Classic Cuvée, Blanc de Blancs or Rosé - from £216, with the Classic Cuvée 2019 case at £252.
Mixed Case at £245 - a combination of three bottles of Classic Cuvée 2019 and three bottles of Rosé 2017.
Collectors Case at £189 - featuring the Classic Cuvée 2011, Classic Cuvée 2014 and Blanc de Blancs 2014.
Gift Box at £65 - a bottle of Black Dog Hill sparkling wine, a mini bottle of Black Dog Hill Sloe Gin and a Black Dog Hill stopper in a wooden box.
Two Bottle Gift Box at £82 - a bottle of Classic Cuvée 2019 and a bottle of Rosé 2017 in a festive box.
Hampers at £155 - a Black Dog Hill box of delights including a bottle of Blanc de Blancs 2015, a bottle of sparkling Rosé 2015, two mini bottles of Black Dog Hill Sloe Gin, a Black Dog Hill stopper, six sparkling wine ganache chocolates from local artisan chocolatier J Cocoa, Back Yard Coffee roasted in Ditchling, a bottle of the stunning Chienoir perfume and a Black Bomber cheese, all presented in a stylish black wooden box.
Chienor Perfume at £30 - a 15ml bottle of the vibrant chypre perfume created by Amanda Beadle at Bedeaux for Black Dog Hill. Winner of the international 2018 Art and Olfaction Awards, Chienoir is a vibrant chypre representing the essence of an English vineyard: mossy woodland, green vines, white flowers and the deep, chalky downland terroir.

Delivery and returns are handled in line with a 30-day policy, with queries directed to info@blackdoghillvineyard.com.

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Contact Details

Phone: 07710 572 974. Email: info@blackdoghillvineyard.com. Postal address: Black Dog Hill Estates Ltd, 30-34 North Street, Hailsham, BN27 1DW, United Kingdom.