WineGB Wessex Awards toast the best producers from Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight
A DOWNTON wine producer scooped a trio of trophies at the annual WineGB Wessex awards hosted by The Pig Hotel at Brockenhurst.
Domaine Hugo received three top accolades for its still and sparking varieties.
Now in its 40th year, the WineGB Wessex Awards are the third largest of all the regional awards, shining a spotlight on more than 50 wineries across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.
It was also the third year WineGB Wessex joined forces with The Pig Hotels, as award sponsors. The Brockenhurst venue hosted the judging, which took place before winemakers from across the region joined a celebration lunch and award ceremony.
Domaine Hugo received the Best in Wessex Still Wine trophy for its Two Times and a Half 2021. Additionally in a special class for vineyards of two hectares or less, it received The John Youles Trophy (Still) for the Two Times and a Half 2021; and The Roger Marchbank Trophy (Sparkling) for the Hugo 2020
The Pig Wessex Wine of the Year Trophy was presented to Langham Wine Estate for its 2019 Pinot Noir by head sommelier at The Pig group, James Cusselle.
A sumptuous celebration lunch featuring Chalk Stream Trout, a local cheese selection and locally reared pork was whipped up by Pig chefs to mark the special occasion.
Domaine Hugo founder Hugo Stewart began producing wine in 2018 after returning home to his family farm in Wiltshire in 2015.
While previously living in France in the Languedoc region, Hugo started winemaking with friend Paul Old, producing an esteemed biodynamic domaine.
Hugo said: “The vineyard is part of an organic mixed farm which has been in the family for five generations. I gained most of my knowledge while working with Paul as we set up Les Clos Perdus in the Languedoc.
“It was Paul’s quest for making distinctive wines and always searching for perfection that was the basis for my planting the vineyard at Botley’s Farm.”
Returning to Wiltshire in 2015, Hugo was confident that the windswept chalk soils of the family farm could make great vineyards, and so planted a handful of traditional champagne varietals.
Fifteen years of careful biodynamic farming in France had given Hugo the strongest footing for beginning the journey from scratch back in the UK.
By 2018 Daniel Ham, the head winemaker at nearby Langham estate was so taken with Hugo’s first home grown vintage, he decided to join him in his new venture.
The vineyard now comprises chardonnay, pinot meunier, pinot noir, pinot gris and pinot blanc, and is certified organic and biodynamic.
Hugo said: “The health of the soil and ripeness of the grapes is paramount in allowing us to make wine in as natural a way as possible.”
The judges for the 2024 Awards were The Pig’s head of wine Luke Harbor, Phoebe French from WineGB, and Rebecca Pitcairn from interview series The English Wine Diaries.
Commenting on the awards Luke said: “It was an honour to be part of the Wessex WineGB Awards. The breadth, consistency, and overall quality of the sparkling wines were particularly impressive. While it was a challenging vintage for producers of still wines, those who persevered managed to craft wines of genuine interest and intrigue.”
WineGB Wessex chair Guillaume Lagger said: “The awards celebrate the incredible quality of Wessex wines, and it’s an exciting moment for the region as we see our wines being recognised.”
The third largest of WineGB’s regional bodies, Wessex is the most diverse in terms of vineyard size, with production ranging from hundreds of bottles to half a million bottles.
The other 2024 WineGB Wessex Trophy Winners were: The PIG Wessex Wine of the Year Trophy - Langham Estate, Pinot Noir 2019; The Best in Wessex Sparkling Brut Trophy – Langham Estate, Pinot Noir 2019; and The Best in Wessex Sparkling Rosé Trophy – Hattingley Valley, Kings Rosé 2015.
