D'Urberville Vineyard: Award-Winning Dorset Sparkling Wine from a Hardy-Inspired Estate
A New Chapter in Dorset's Winemaking Story
Nestled on a south-facing chalk slope just outside Dorchester, D'Urberville Vineyard is one of England's newest and most talked-about boutique sparkling-wine producers. Established in 2011 by Colin Hawkins on part of the old Poundbury Farm, the estate is a small, family-run venture that has already punched well above its weight, winning a coveted gold medal at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) and earning a devoted following among fans of quality English sparkling wine.
The five-acre site lies in the parish of Bradford Peverell, on a slope whose chalky, free-draining soils are geologically similar to those found throughout the Champagne region of France. It is this terroir, combined with a maritime Dorset climate, that gives D'Urberville's wines their characteristic elegance and finesse.
The Name Behind the Vines
The vineyard's evocative name pays tribute to Dorset's most celebrated literary figure. Colin Hawkins's grandfather was personally acquainted with Thomas Hardy, the great Victorian novelist whose fictional Wessex was modelled on the very same county in which the vineyard now sits. It was from Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles that the estate takes its name - a fitting choice for a winery whose roots run deep into the local landscape.
Planting a vineyard had long been a dream for Colin. In 2011, the idea became a reality when he earmarked a south-facing field on the family farm - a slope he had always considered ideal for viticulture - and planted the first vines. By 2014, the estate was ready for its inaugural harvest, and the resulting Traditional Method sparkling wine, released after two years of bottle ageing, immediately attracted critical acclaim.
The Vineyard and the Grapes
D'Urberville's five-acre vineyard is planted with more than 5,000 vines on a gentle, free-draining chalk slope that catches the sun throughout the day. Three classic Champagne grape varieties form the backbone of the estate:
- Pinot Noir - providing structure, body and red-fruit aromatics
- Pinot Meunier - adding roundness, supple fruit and early-maturing charm
- Chardonnay - delivering finesse, freshness and a long, elegant finish
In 2014, a small block of Bacchus was added to the planting, with a view to producing a still white wine in future vintages. Although not yet a commercial release, the introduction of Bacchus signals the estate's longer-term ambition to broaden its range beyond sparkling.
Awards and Recognition
Despite its youth, D'Urberville Vineyard has accumulated an impressive haul of medals from some of the UK's most respected wine competitions. The flagship sparkling wine has won:
- Gold Medal - Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) 2021
- Gold Award - Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) 2022
- Silver Medal - South West Wine Producers Awards 2018
For a winery still in its first decade, these accolades represent an exceptional endorsement of the quality of fruit, winemaking and terroir on display. The D'Urberville team rightly describes them as "a fantastic accolade for us in our early years of production".
The Wines
D'Urberville currently produces a single, carefully crafted English Sparkling Wine, made using the Traditional Method: barrel fermentation followed by a minimum of two years' ageing on the lees in the bottle. This labour-intensive process - the same method used in Champagne - develops the toasty, brioche-like complexity that distinguishes the finest bottle-fermented sparkling wines.
English Sparkling Wine
The flagship release is a pale-straw-coloured sparkling wine with a fine, persistent bead of bubbles. On the nose, it bursts with aromas of fresh strawberries, red apple and lemon tart. The palate is reminiscent of pear tarte tatin, lifted by a subtle lime acidity that produces a long, elegant finish.
The wine is offered in three formats:
- Single bottle - English Sparkling Wine - 1 Bottle at £31.99 GBP
- Six-bottle case - English Sparkling Wine - 6 Bottles at £162.00 GBP
- Twelve-bottle case - English Sparkling Wine - 12 Bottles at £312.00 GBP
All three sizes are currently sold out, reflecting strong demand for this limited-production cuvée.
Hand Picked, Traditionally Made
Every grape that goes into D'Urberville English Sparkling Wine is hand-picked from the family's vineyard. Hand harvesting is gentler on the fruit than machine picking and allows for selective harvesting of only the healthiest, ripest bunches - an essential quality step in the production of premium sparkling wine.
The fruit is then fermented in barrel and bottled for secondary fermentation, where it spends a further two years ageing on its lees before being disgorged and released. The result is a wine that combines the bright, fruit-forward character of young English sparkling with the depth and complexity that only Traditional Method production can deliver.
Visiting D'Urberville Vineyard
The vineyard is located at The Dower House, Bradford Peverell, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9SJ, just a few miles west of the county town. Set on part of the historic Poundbury Farm, the site is close to Hardy country and within easy reach of the Jurassic Coast.
At present, D'Urberville does not run scheduled public tours or tastings. The owners note that vineyard tours and tastings are hoped for in time. Special visits may occasionally be arranged by appointment.
How to Order
D'Urberville English Sparkling Wine can be ordered online. Customers must be at least 18 years old to place an order. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and the estate operates a 14-working-day right of withdrawal under standard UK distance-selling regulations. The estate also accepts enquiries about collecting orders in person, stock availability, and arranging substitutes or refunds.
- Phone: 07966 413179
- Email: bpfarms@hotmail.co.uk
- Address: The Dower House, Bradford Peverell, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9SJ
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A Small Estate with a Big Future
D'Urberville Vineyard is a wonderful example of the new wave of small, ambitious English wineries transforming the country's reputation for fine sparkling wine. With its privileged Dorset terroir, classic Champagne varieties, hand-picked fruit and meticulous Traditional Method winemaking, the estate has produced - even from its very first vintage in 2014 - a sparkling wine capable of holding its own against far more established names.