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The West Dorset Magazine, June 3, 2022
Business
Raise your glass! Award-winning wine By Andrew Diprose of DORSET BIZ NEWS editor@dorsetbiznews.co.uk An award-winning Dorset wine estate, which is expanding production by 200 per cent to meet demand, has held a ceremony to mark the planting out of 45 acres of new vines. Langham Wine Estate is to increase its vineyards from 30 acres to 85 acres in a project costing more than £500,000. The expansion will increase annual production from 50,000 to 150,000 bottles. The latest 45 acres of vines have been planted at its Owner Justin Langham with (left) vineyard manager Olly Whitfield, and winemaker Tommy Crawthorne vineyard site, Grimshaw at the ceremonial planting of the last vine. Picture: DORSET BIZ NEWS between Milborne St Andrew. and Puddletown years it has been named the grapes and rapidly expand clones supplied wasn’t They include existing best sparkling wine that way but that is so what I ordered. clones and varieties, producer in the South West. much against our ethos. “It was very similar but not predominantly Chardonnay Owner Justin Langham “We would not only be the same. and Pinot Noir. planted the first 30 acres of losing our control but we “I rejected it so we’ve The first harvest is vines in 2009. feel the grapes we grow planted about 45 acres and expected in 2024/25 and The soil at Crawthorne here are special. we will, hopefully, get that the wine will be on sale in consists of a shallow clay “One of the things we are extra ten acres planted next 2026/27. loam, containing flint, over passionate about is having year. A further ten acres will be deep Cretaceous chalk. all the functions of “We didn’t want to take a planted next year. The chalk soils provide the producing the grapes and clone and potentially dilute In 2020, Langham was wines with a fresh, saline making the wine directly what we’re trying to named Sparkling Wine character. under our control. achieve. Producer of the Year by the But after what Justin “That makes me sound a “The quality is International Wine & described as a bit of a control freak but I everything.” Spirits Competition ‘rollercoaster’ two years, think that all of the small Justin, who heads up a (IWSC). Langham found that little increments that you small and passionate young It saw off competition from can do to improve the team including Tommy more than 700 entries from demand was heavily quality all end up in the Grimshaw, Winemaker, and all over the world including exceeding supply. He said: “We are sadly finished product. Olly Whitfield, Vineyard champagne and prosecco turning away people who “We decided the only thing Manager, said the past two brands. want to buy our wines. to do was to plant more years had seen challenging The previous year the “We simply don’t have vines. times for Langham. contest had been won by enough. “The planting that has just He said: “It’s been a bit of the French champagne “The easy thing to do taken place was meant to a rollercoaster. house Veuve Clicquot. In three out of the past four would be to go out and buy be 55 acres but one of the “In 2020 we were hoping
