Wine from a vineyard near Dorchester is to be distributed to the hospitality sector thanks to a Dorset wine merchant.

Wine from the Langham Wine Estate is going out to restaurants, hotels, pubs, bars, venues, event organisers and related businesses thanks to Templar Wines, the largest independent wine merchant in Dorset.

Since it was established in 2008, Templar Wines, which is based at Poole, Dorset, has imported wines from all over Europe.

Through a year-long agreement all Langham’s Sparkling wine is being made available for people to enjoy when restaurants and pubs open their doors again.

Max Bracher, managing director of Templar Wines, said: “We were going to begin in April, but due to the ongoing pandemic, a date will be announced in the future when the hospitality sector reopens, so customers will be able to enjoy all the Langham favourites in their favourite restaurants.

“It is an ideal fit for us because we undertake regular deliveries to customers along the south coast, many of which also stocked Langham wines, creating both logical and environmental synergy.

“Langham Estate has become one of the leading winegrowers in the UK, and having won various awards, it makes our portfolio stronger and enables the trade to offer an award winning, local English wine for their customers.”

Langham Wine Estate prides itself in crafting terroir-driven sparkling wines using grapes only grown upon its vineyard. Located east of Dorchester, the 11-hectare, south-facing vineyard at Crawthorne was planted in 2009 with a mixture of Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier.

Hospitality customers will be able to acquire more frequent deliveries of smaller quantities, which means that they can carry less stock and run less risk of running out.

There is a café and tasting room at Langham Wine Estate which is provisionally due to re-open in July, Covid-19 rules permitting. Templar Wines offers more than 600 unique, interesting wines which are not found in supermarkets, with regular deliveries throughout Dorset and the New Forest.

Justin Langham, managing director of Langham Wine Estate, said: “I’ve known Max for several years and we’re proud to announce this official association for the hospitality and leisure sector. We firmly believe it will take our wines out to the local on trade, thanks to their connections and we hope the relationship will continue to flourish for many years.”