The Wharie Experience: Low-Intervention Wines from a Hampshire Farm
Introduction
Tucked along South Sway Lane on the edge of the New Forest, just outside the coastal town of Lymington, The Wharie Experience is one of Hampshire's quietly distinctive small wineries. It is a single-handed project built around the philosophy of low-intervention winemaking, run by a Swiss oenologist who replanted a corner of his wife's family farm with vines and orchards. The result is a thoughtful, characterful range of still wines alongside cider, beer and mead - all crafted with the same guiding principle: that quality in the field translates directly into quality in the glass.
Visitors won't find a sprawling estate with a restaurant, gift shop and coach park here. What they will find is something rarer in the English wine scene: a working farm winery where every bottle is the product of one person's hands, a handful of rows of vines, and an unstinting commitment to letting the fruit speak for itself.
The Story Behind The Wharie Experience
The story of The Wharie Experience is, at heart, a love story - and an oenological one. Its creator, Guillaume Lagger, trained as a Swiss oenologist, studying wine production in his home country before an opportunity arose to come and live in England at his wife's family farm. It did not take long for him to recognise that the land, climate and situation were ideal for a small vineyard and cider orchard.
Guillaume puts it neatly: "I want to cultivate my vines extensively by limiting the inputs. I do not set myself shackles for the production of wines and hope to surprise you with each cuvée." That sentence captures the spirit of the project neatly. There are no rigid stylistic rules, no demands for the wines to fit a particular mould. Each cuvée is allowed to express its vintage, its fruit, and its maker's evolving instincts.
From the outset, Guillaume set himself a clear goal: quality, every day, in the field as well as in the winery. The vineyard and orchard were planted specifically with this ethos in mind, and the still wines that emerge today - ranging from gentle rosés through aromatic whites and skin-contact oranges to a quietly serious red - are the direct expression of that philosophy.
Location and Setting
The Wharie is situated on South Sway Lane, just outside Lymington on the southern edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, with the postcode SO41 6DP. The setting is classic English wine country fringe: maritime-influenced air drifting in from the Solent, mixed woodland and pastoral farmland surrounding the site, and free-draining soils that suit both vines and orchard fruit.
This microclimate - mild, relatively dry, and with that crucial coastal moderation - gives the region enough warmth and length of season to ripen a wide range of varieties, including some of the more adventurous PIWI (fungus-resistant) crossings that Guillaume favours for their resilience and lower input requirements. It is also perfectly suited to the apples and other orchard fruits that go into the cider and mead.
Visits are arranged by appointment only, which is worth bearing in mind. There is no standing wine bar and no fixed opening hours. To come and explore the vineyard, taste the wines or collect an order, guests should contact Guillaume in advance via info@wharie.co.uk or by phone on +44 7517 492769.
The Wines
The current collection comprises eight still wines, ranging in style from a light, easy-drinking rosé at £13.50 to a single-vineyard, single-barrel red at £35. All are bottled under The Wharie Experience label and sold direct via the online shop. Below is a walk through the full range.
The Rosé - £13.50
The entry-point rosé is a gentle, low-intervention wine that Guillaume describes as being "left to speak in its own quiet voice." At just 9.6% alcohol, it is light and effortless, opening with soft red fruit and subtle floral notes that drift rather than shout. It is the kind of bottle designed for long conversations, slow afternoons, and the sort of warm evening that doesn't need to end. Approachable, pure and deeply drinkable, it represents exceptional value at the lower end of the range.
The Rose Reserve - £16.50
The Reserve is a more contemplative expression of the same colour, shaped by time and texture. At 10.9% alcohol and aged for 50% of its élevage in French oak, it carries added depth without losing its grace. On the palate, subtle red berries and wild herbs unfold alongside a gentle savouriness and a fine, focused line drawn from the barrel. The oak doesn't lead; it supports, adding quiet structure and length. Layered, composed and assured, this is a rosé made for food, for pause, and for evenings that take their time.
Orion 2022 - £21.00
Orion 2022 is a light, aromatic English white crafted from the PIWI grape variety Orion - a crossing bred for disease resistance and lower-input viticulture, which fits the winery's philosophy of limited interventions perfectly. In the glass it offers delicate elderflower, honeysuckle and soft tropical fruits, creating a wine that feels bright, effortless and approachable. At once refreshing and nuanced, it is excellent on its own or alongside fresh seasonal dishes, and stands as a quiet celebration of flavour and balance.
Ortega 2023 - £25.00
Ortega 2023 is a structured, thoughtful wine, half orange and half white, aged entirely in French oak. Aromas of white peach and delicate white flowers rise gently from the glass, framing a wine that is precise, layered and quietly compelling. The oak lends subtle depth and support, highlighting its tension and elegance. It is a wine built for the table, for contemplation, and for moments that linger - a serious, food-friendly mid-range white that punches well above its price.
Bacchus Orange 2023 - £25.00
The 2023 vintage of the Bacchus Orange is a vibrant skin-contact wine, with 60% of the cuvée aged in French oak. Elderflower and honeysuckle mingle with subtle spices, while fine tannins provide gentle grip and structure. It is bright and layered, equally at home as a lively aperitif or alongside thoughtfully prepared dishes. For drinkers new to orange wine, this is a beautifully judged introduction - aromatic and textural without ever tipping into heaviness.
The Red - £25.00
The Red is a non-vintage blend, primarily Cabernet Noir, aged for two years in French oak. Smooth and layered, it offers ripe red cherry aromas and the classic structure of a cabernet-style wine, framed by silky tannins. Balanced and approachable, it is described as being equally at home as a lively aperitif or alongside a meal - a versatile, easy-going red that reflects the winery's softer, low-intervention approach to red winemaking.
Bacchus Orange 2022 - £27.50
The 2022 Bacchus Orange is a single-vineyard, single-barrel orange wine - a rare expression of complexity and richness. Layers of dried fruit, honeyed notes and a fine tannin structure create a wine that is both bold and nuanced. Aged with care and precision, it reveals its full depth with every sip. With only a few bottles remaining, this is a limited-edition wine made for the adventurous wine lover - well worth grabbing before it disappears.
Cabaret Noir 2022 - £35.00
At the top of the range sits Cabaret Noir 2022, a premium 100% varietal red sourced from a single vineyard and aged in a single barrel. With a medium body, it reveals ripe blackcurrant, delicate spices and a hint of gentle, discreet smoke. The wine is framed by a well-integrated tannin structure that gives a smooth, composed finish. Balanced and refined, this is a wine made for both immediate enjoyment and future contemplation - a flagship bottle for the project.
Tours and Tastings at The Wharie
For those who would like to understand where these wines come from, The Wharie offers two structured experiences. Both are hosted personally by Guillaume, and both are designed for small groups.
Vineyard Tour - £25.00 per person
The vineyard tour is offered for private groups of two to ten guests at £25 per person. The format is straightforward and generous: guests stroll with Guillaume through the vineyard and orchard while he explains what happens behind the scenes across the seasons - from winter pruning through to the autumn harvest - and answers questions along the way. After the walk, the group heads into the winery for a guided tasting, where they can sample the wines and learn more about the winemaking process. Larger groups can be accommodated on request.
Cheese and Wine Tasting - £45.00 per person
The cheese and wine tasting is the longer, more immersive experience, priced at £45 per person. It begins with a guided walk through the vineyard and orchard, with detailed explanation of the seasonal work and growing process, before moving into the winery for a tasting of the wines themselves. The final element is a carefully selected cheese and wine pairing, thoughtfully matched to enhance the flavour and character of each wine. As with the vineyard tour, larger groups can be accommodated by arrangement.
Visiting The Wharie
Because the winery operates entirely by appointment, anyone planning a visit - whether for a tour, a tasting, or simply to pick up an order - should contact Guillaume in advance. The two principal channels are email (info@wharie.co.uk) and phone (+44 7517 492769). The address is The Wharie, South Sway Lane, Lymington, SO41 6DP.
For those further afield, the entire wine range is available to order online through the Wharie shop, with bottles dispatched direct from the winery. Following the project on Facebook and Instagram is the best way to keep up with new releases and the occasional opening for visits.
Final Thoughts
The Wharie Experience is the kind of small English wine project that the country's maturing industry is increasingly producing - but which still feels special when you come across one. It is personal, careful, philosophically coherent and uncompromising on quality, yet entirely approachable both in the glass and at the cellar door. Whether you are tempted by a bottle of the gentle Rosé, a serious skin-contact Bacchus, or simply want to spend an afternoon walking the rows with the man who planted them, The Wharie offers a quietly memorable slice of contemporary Hampshire winemaking.