Harrow & Hope Vineyard: A Family-Run Sparkling Wine Project on the Marlow Hills
Perched on a south-facing Thames gravel terrace above the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, Harrow & Hope is a small, family-run English sparkling wine producer making traditional method wines from a single 6.5-hectare vineyard. The project is, in the words of its founder Henry, "truly a labour of love" - a long-term bet that the flint- and chalk-laden slopes of the Chilterns can yield sparkling wines to rival the great houses of Champagne. More than a decade after the first vines went into the ground, that bet is paying off in bottles of unmistakable character, sold direct to a loyal band of customers across the UK and beyond.
A Family Story with Deep Roots in Wine
Harrow & Hope is the work of Henry and Kaye Laithwaite, who farm, make and bottle every drop on the same site above Marlow. Henry comes from a wine-obsessed family that has been in the trade for more than fifty years; he made his first (pineapple) wine at the age of thirteen and was working harvests in the Ardèche by seventeen, followed by a vintage at Tatachilla in McLaren Vale. Kaye studied biology at Durham University and tolerated, as Henry puts it, his disappearing off to France and Australia to chase the dream of becoming a winemaker.
The pair married in 2008 and started their first vineyard project together at Château Verniotte in Castillon, Bordeaux, before deciding to come home to start a family in England. Just as the chalk hills of the south-east were being recognised as capable of producing world-class sparkling wines, they found their site on the rolling hills behind Marlow. Vines planted, three children born, a winery built, and ten years on, the wines are gaining recognition from critics, competitions and customers alike.
For the first seven years it was just Henry, Kaye and Alfonse (now Alfie), their trusted vineyard dog rescued from the streets of Bergerac. A small but dedicated team now supports every part of the business, and the family pays warm tribute to the help they received along the way - notably from the late Mike Roberts OBE, Tamara and Simon at Ridgeview (the great pioneers of the English sparkling industry), and from the legendary Australian sparkling pioneer Dr Tony Jordan, who worked for Moët et Chandon before helping to set up Domaine Chandon in Australia and sparkling wineries around the world.
The Site: Thames Terroir on the Edge of the Chilterns
Over half a million years, the retreating Thames has shaped the Harrow & Hope site into something of a viticultural sweet spot. The vineyard sits on an ancient Thames gravel terrace formed when the river cut down into the Chilterns chalk around 450,000 years ago, leaving behind a complex layer of clay, flint and gravel lying on top of pure chalk. It is classic "Thames terroir" - the same kind of geology that gives so many of Champagne's greatest vineyards their hallmark freshness and finesse.
Henry had a good feeling about the site from the moment he stood on it, on a cold, rainy February day in 2010. The Pinot Noir sits on the flint-gravel and clay upper slopes, where it picks up ripeness, texture and weight. Further down, where the clay layer thins out and the pure chalk takes over, the Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier gain freshness, minerality, elegant aromatics and the acidity that is so vital for traditional method sparkling. The vineyard's inland, central position gives it warm summer days and cool nights - the diurnal swing that preserves acidity while still ripening the grapes fully.
Organic from the Ground Up
Soil is the single most important factor at Harrow & Hope, and the team is fanatical about looking after it. The vineyard is run on organic principles: no synthetic pesticides or herbicides, home-made compost, cover crops between the rows, and an effort to work with nature rather than against it. Building the natural biome both above and below ground is at the heart of their approach to terroir, and the way they bring through the unique signature of the site in every glass.
The Winery: A Light Touch in Stainless Steel and Oak
By the time harvest comes around, most of the hard work has already been done in the vineyard. The role of the winery, as the team sees it, is to preserve that quality and gently guide it through the traditional method process. Henry describes winemaking as "paying attention to all the little details along the process that, when added together, give the wine its great quality."
The winery has no frills, but at every step the right piece of kit is in place. Plots are fermented separately in small stainless steel tanks and a mix of different-sized oak barrels, so the winemakers have as many blending options as possible once the wines are ready. Around 30% of the juice is fermented in aged oak Bordelaise barrels to add texture and complexity, and the team is increasingly fermenting with native yeast from the vineyard and winery, leading to slower fermentations that bring more depth and complexity to the finished wines.
As the vines have matured, picking decisions are now made plot by plot, based on the soil type, with each block's character understood and tracked vintage after vintage. The result, says Henry, is that "every stage is done in-house with meticulous care and attention," and the wines express the geology and microclimate of this one hillside.
The Current Range: Traditional Method Sparkling
Harrow & Hope is solely dedicated to traditional method sparkling wines. The aim is to express the unique character of the single vineyard in both vintage and non-vintage blends. The current release line-up showcases the three classic Champagne varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - across a range of styles from a crisp non-vintage blend through to single-vintage, single-varietal bottlings.
Brut Rosé 2022 - £228.00 per case of 6 (£38/btl)
From a hot and dry summer that produced exceptionally ripe fruit, this pale salmon-hued sparkling has an enticing nose that evokes the warmth of summer, with a generous, outgoing personality. The style edges closer to Champagne than classic English sparkling, balancing richness with freshness from the chalky soils. A 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier blend, with 30% barrel fermentation and 30 months on lees. Total acidity 8.1 g/l, residual sugar 7.9 g/l.
Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 - £222.00 per case of 6 (£37/btl)
Fermented using natural ambient yeast in 500-litre oak puncheons, this is a 100% Pinot Noir rosé with a bright pink/salmon colour, a lovely dark cherry nose and subtle spice from the oak. The pure Pinot gives the palate a compact, dense middle that drives to a very long finish, with a lot of evolution still ahead. 35 months on lees. Total acidity 8.1 g/l, residual sugar 9.7 g/l.
Brut Reserve No 10 - £204.00 per case of 6 (£34/btl)
The signature multi-vintage blend uses fruit from all varieties and all areas of the single vineyard to express the whole site. Reserve wines aged in oak, carefully built up since the very first harvest, add layers of complexity and texture. No 10 is based on the 2021 vintage, blended as 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, with 30% perpetual reserve. Minimum 32 months on lees. Total acidity 7.8 g/l, residual sugar 10.4 g/l.
Blanc de Blancs 2020 - £240.00 per case of 6 (£40/btl)
A 100% Chardonnay from the chalky plot of the vineyard's best white-grape terroir, made in the same way each vintage with around 50% barrel fermentation and long lees ageing. The team's first year trialling organics, 2020 produced small but incredibly ripe and concentrated fruit; combined with wild yeast fermentation in barrel and minimal sulphur use, it shows a purity never seen before in the wines.
Pinot Meunier 2019 - £228.00 per case of 6 (£38/btl)
Pinot Meunier is a rarity in English sparkling, but it thrives on the chalky lower slopes of the vineyard. 85% of this wine was fermented in stainless steel to preserve its aromatic character, with the remainder in a 500-litre oak puncheon for structure and length. The result is naturally soft and elegant, with a subtle floral nose and a savoury, saline edge, finishing feather-light and moreish. 34 months on lees.
Blanc de Noirs 2019 - £252.00 per case of 6 (£42/btl)
A 100% Pinot Noir in which 80% of the fruit is fermented using natural wild yeast in a selection of different-sized oak barrels. The cooler 2019 season suited Pinot Noir beautifully, and the result has the variety's signature intensity wrapped in an elegant, refined structure - a wine that continues to develop a singular identity with each passing year. 36 months on lees. Total acidity 7.6 g/l, residual sugar 5.6 g/l. Critics have been unstinting in their praise: 95/100 The Real Review, 94/100 Jamie Goode, 93/100 Vinous and 17.5/20 Tamlyn Currin (jancisrobinson.com).
Mixed Cases
- Mixed Case (Brut Reserve No.10, Pinot Noir Rosé, Blanc de Noirs) - £226.00 per 6 bottles, including 2 bottles of each and free delivery.
- Mixed Case (Brut Reserve No.10, Pinot Meunier, Blanc de Noirs) - £228.00 per 6 bottles, including 2 bottles of each and free delivery.
Magnums from 2015: The Pinnacle of the Cellar
The 2015 vintage remains Harrow & Hope's most decorated year for trophies, gold medals and scores, and the magnums released from that harvest represent the pinnacle of what the estate offers in terms of quality, complexity and age-ability. Every magnum comes in a special gift box and has had an extra five years on lees compared with its original 75cl release.
- Brut Reserve No 5 Magnum - Based on the 2016 vintage, the only wine made that year after losing 70% of the crop to frost. Aged eight years on lees, it remains amazingly youthful. 50 bottles produced. £90 per magnum.
- Brut Rosé 2015 Magnum (SOLD OUT) - The only pure Pinot Rosé ever produced at Harrow & Hope; bold, rich and textured, it has benefited enormously from eight years on lees. Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards and Wine GB Awards. 50 bottles produced. £100 per magnum.
- Blanc de Blancs 2015 Magnum (SOLD OUT) - A 100% Chardonnay that scored 97/100 and won the Decanter Panel Tasting led by Suzy Atkins MW. 150 bottles produced. £115 per magnum.
- Blanc de Noirs 2015 Magnum (SOLD OUT) - The estate's most decorated wine, a brilliant Pinot Noir year with a cool, dry season bringing out perfume and delicacy. Two-time Wine GB Awards winner, Blanc de Noirs Trophy third place, Gold at the Noble Rot Champagne vs England tasting, and 17.5/20 from Jancis Robinson. 50 bottles produced. £125 per magnum.
The magnum range is priced from £90 to £125 per bottle, depending on the cuvée.
Library Releases: Previous Vintages Worth Seeking Out
Beyond the current line-up, the Harrow & Hope cellar holds a roll-call of older releases that illustrate just how well the wines age and how the style has evolved as the vines have matured.
- Brut Reserve NV No 9 - Based on 2020, the first year trialling organics; 4% 2017, 12% 2018 and 24% 2019 reserves. £204.00 per 6.
- Brut Reserve No 8 - Based on the wonderful 2019 Pinot year; 1% 2014, 6% 2017 and 17% 2018 reserves. £198.00 per 6.
- Brut Reserve No 7 - Based on the ripe and healthy 2018 vintage; 6% 2014, 4% 2015 and 10% 2017 reserves. £192.00 per 6.
- Brut Reserve No 6 - Based on 2017; 20% 2014 reserves aged in oak. Trophy winner for Best English NV Sparkling at the Wine GB Awards 2022. £180.00 per 6.
- Brut Reserve NV No 5 - Based on 2016, made entirely from a tiny frost-reduced crop. £168.00 per 6.
- Brut Reserve NV No 4 - Based on the great 2015 vintage with 30% 2014 reserves aged in old oak barriques. Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards, Wine GB Awards and International Wine & Spirits Competition; Silver at the International Wine Challenge. £168.00 per 6.
- Brut Rosé 2019 - One of the most exciting Harrow & Hope releases to date, with immense structure, texture and depth. £216.00 per 6.
- Brut Rosé 2020 - A small, very ripe, incredibly concentrated vintage; opulent and fruit-forward, with a purity and elegance that glides across the palate. £216.00 per 6.
- Brut Rosé 2021 - From a year that tested the team more than any in their history; lighter in structure but full of harmony and finesse. Gold Medal at the Wine GB Awards 2025 and 17.5/20 from Tamlyn Currin. £222.00 per 6.
- Blanc de Blancs 2017 - The standout wine of the 2017 harvest, more generous and softer than its predecessor. £228.00 per 6.
Older Brut Reserve releases are also available as magnum-only offers, while a Blanc de Noirs 3 Vintage Gift Set is priced at £130.00.
Gifts and Gift Sets for Every Occasion
The Harrow & Hope gifts range makes it easy to give a bottle - or a curated set - of award-winning English sparkling. Bottles in gift boxes come in single-bottle presentations; gift sets pair wines with Harrow & Hope branded glasses and a branded bottle stopper.
Single-Bottle Gift Boxes
- Brut Reserve No.10 Gift Box - £40.00 per bottle
- Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 Gift Box - £43.00 per bottle
- Pinot Meunier 2019 Gift Box - £44.00 per bottle
- Blanc de Noirs 2019 Gift Box - £48.00 per bottle
Gift Sets
- 3 Bottle Gift Set (Brut Reserve No.10, Pinot Noir Rosé 2021, Blanc de Noirs 2019) - £117.00 for 3 bottles
- 3 Bottle Gift Set (Brut Reserve No.10, Pinot Meunier, Blanc de Noirs) - £118.00 for 3 bottles
- 3 Bottle Gift Set (Brut Reserve, Pinot Meunier, Blanc de Blancs) - £116.00 for 3 bottles
- Brut Reserve No.10 and Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 Gift Set - 2 bottles in gift boxes plus 2 Harrow & Hope glasses and a bottle stopper. £104.00
- Brut Reserve No.10 and Blanc de Noirs 2019 Gift Set - 2 bottles in gift boxes plus 2 glasses and a stopper. £109.00
- Brut Reserve No.9 and Blanc de Noirs 2019 Gift Set - 2 bottles in gift boxes plus 2 glasses and a stopper. £109.00
- Brut Reserve No.9 and Blanc de Blancs 2020 Gift Set - 2 bottles in gift boxes plus 2 glasses and a stopper. £107.00
- Brut Reserve No.8 and Blanc de Noirs 2019 Gift Set - 2 bottles in gift boxes plus 2 glasses and a stopper. £99.00
- Brut Reserve No.8 and Blanc de Blancs 2018 Gift Set - 2 bottles in gift boxes plus 2 glasses and a stopper. £97.00
- Blanc de Noirs 3 Vintage Gift Set - £130.00
All orders over £50 within mainland UK qualify for free delivery; orders under £50 incur a £7.99 delivery fee. There is no additional charge for multiple orders (six-bottle cases or single-bottle gift boxes) going to the same address.
Vineyard, Winery Tour & Tasting
For those who want to walk the vineyard and see the winery in action, Harrow & Hope runs a guided tour and tasting experience from May through to the beginning of September. Tours and tastings start at £35.00 per person, last approximately two hours, and are limited to twelve guests per tour.
The experience begins on the slopes above the River Thames, where Henry and the team explain the winemaking process from vine to bottle, before moving into the winery to see how the wines are blended, fermented and aged. It concludes with a tutored tasting of three of the estate's award-winning sparkling wines. The estate recommends wearing sensible shoes and clothing, as part of the tour takes place outside and can be muddy underfoot.
Bookings are made online and confirmed by email - no physical tickets are issued. The cancellation policy offers a full refund or rescheduling (subject to availability) for cancellations made more than seven days before the booked date; within seven days, tickets cannot be refunded or rescheduled. Private tours and gift vouchers for tours are not available, but pre-release customers now receive priority booking access to tours. Tours can be booked online.
Fizzy Fridays: Summer Evenings at the Vineyard
Every summer, the Harrow & Hope vineyard opens its gates on selected Friday evenings for Fizzy Fridays - relaxed drinks evenings running from 5pm to 9pm throughout June, July and August. The Harrow & Hope Bar serves the estate's sparkling wines by the glass or bottle, with soft drinks also available, while a rotating line-up of local food producers brings something delicious to eat.
Food vendors at the 2026 Fizzy Fridays include The Smoke Chef, Fire & Hop, Made by Mark, The Burger Post, FINK Street Food and Little Reds - each one a Buckinghamshire favourite. Customers are asked not to bring or consume food and drink not purchased on site, and to book a free ticket in advance so that food numbers and capacity can be managed. Seating is on straw bales; guests are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets.
Fizzy Fridays are weather-dependent and will be cancelled if it rains. Parking is limited, so the estate strongly encourages walking or taxis, and cars cannot be left on site over the weekend as the gates will be locked. The events are 18+ - babies in arms and dogs on leads are welcome, but not young children.
2026 Fizzy Fridays Calendar
- 12th June - The Smoke Chef
- 19th June - Fire & Hop & Made by Mark
- 26th June - The Burger Post
- 3rd July - The Smoke Chef
- 17th July - Fire & Hop & Made by Mark
- 24th July - FINK Street Food
- 31st July - The Smoke Chef & Little Reds
- 7th August - Made by Mark & Ginger Wings
The Pre-Release Scheme: Buying Wine Early and Saving
The Harrow & Hope pre-release scheme is the best way to buy the wines and is offered in advance of each new vintage release. By signing up to the mailing list, customers receive an email offer one to two months before any vintage is officially released, securing a case of six bottles at a guaranteed never-to-be-beaten price. Cases can either be collected at a weekend launch day or delivered free of charge.
Launch days are an event in their own right - an opportunity to taste all of the current wines, take a vineyard and winery tour with the team, and explore and taste a range of produce from a select group of local food and drinks producers. Benefits of becoming a pre-release customer include:
- Best price available for all vintage wines
- Free invitation to launch events
- Priority access for all tour bookings
- Priority access for all events at the winery
To qualify, customers must have bought a case on pre-release in the last 18 months. Confirmed upcoming 2026 releases include the Brut Rosé 2022 (launch day Saturday 25th April) and the Blanc de Blancs 2021 (launch day Saturday 28th November).
Plan Your Visit
Harrow & Hope Vineyard is based at Marlow Winery, Pump Lane North, Marlow, SL7 3RD, in the heart of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns. The winery and vineyard sit on the rolling hillsides overlooking the River Thames, just outside the historic town of Marlow - an easy stop for anyone exploring the river or walking the Chiltern Way.
Tours and tastings are bookable online from May to early September, while the Fizzy Fridays evening series is the easiest way to drop by without committing to a full tour. Wine orders can be placed through the online shop and are delivered free within mainland UK on orders over £50.
Contact
- Address: Harrow & Hope Ltd, Marlow Winery, Pump Lane North, Marlow, SL7 3RD
- Telephone: 01628 481 091
- Email: enquiries@harrowandhope.com
Follow Harrow & Hope Online
From a single 6.5-hectare vineyard on a flint-and-chalk terrace above the Thames, Henry, Kaye and the Harrow & Hope team are quietly building one of England's most distinctive sparkling wine estates - glass by glass, vintage by vintage.