A vineyard in Dorset has marked its 15th anniversary with a special day of celebration and continues to look to the future.
Langham Wine Estate recently marked 15 years since planting its vineyard at Crawthorne Farm, near Dorchester, and to celebrate friends of the winery and vineyard were invited for a day filled with wine tastings, tours and Dorset seafood, prepared by The Langham Vineyard Café.
Langham’s core wines were poured along with their collection of old and rare wines, whilst tunes were played by Dorchester record store and local DJs, Vinyl Van.
Sommeliers, restaurateurs, hoteliers and chefs from both local and London-based establishments joined for the celebration, including guests from Weymouth’s Catch at the Old Fishmarket, Dorchester’s The King’s Arms, Convivial Rabbit and Cerne Abbas Stores.
Managing director, Justin Langham, said: “I take immense pride in evolving what was once my father’s hobby into the thriving Langham Wine Estate we see today and I am truly delighted to see the estate reach this milestone.
“After visiting many of the world’s most regarded wine regions and having studied viticulture at Plumpton College, I decided to make my dream a reality.
"We planted 30 acres of vineyard in 2009 and have since expanded to 85 acres.
"In May, we planted 13,000 new Chardonnay vines on the final 10 acres of our planned expansion and are anticipating bountiful harvests in the years to come.
He added: "Behind our success lies a dedicated team whose passion and expertise produce the exceptional wines within our portfolio. I am very proud of what we have achieved so far.”
READ: Jobs boost as Dorset's Langham Wine Estate expands
The winemakers pride themselves on making wines only using grapes grown on the estate, hand harvesting the grapes and taking a low intervention approach to winemaking.
As reported, Langham secured two gold and two silver accolades in the Sommelier Wine Awards, which reward the best wines on offer for restaurants and bars in the UK.
The estate has also received international recognition after winning the coveted 'Best Sparkling Wine Producer' award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2020.
Along with newly planted vines, 2024 has also seen Langham release its first still wine since 2020.
The 2022 Chardonnay is named after ‘Search for Enlightenment’, a sculpture by Dorset-based sculptor Simon Gudgeon.
Looking ahead, the estate says it remains dedicated to producing 'exceptional wines' that reflect 'the unique terroir of Dorset'.
A spokesperson for the estate added: "With a focus on quality, sustainability and innovation, the estate will continue striving for excellence for many years to come."
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