Black Chalk is an independent, family-run winery in Hampshire's Test Valley, founded in 2015 by winemaker Jacob Leadley and his brother-in-law Andrew Seden.

Having previously worked at Hattingley Valley, Jacob established Black Chalk to showcase the exceptional potential of Hampshire's chalk vineyards.

Today, he works alongside winemaker Zoë Driver, producing small-batch sparkling and still wines with a strong emphasis on fruit purity and individual vintage character.

The estate's vineyards lie on shallow soils over ancient chalk, providing the freshness and structure that define its wines.

Black Chalk farms sustainably, with vineyard and winery certification through Sustainable Wines of Great Britain.

Rather than following a fixed blend each year, the team adapts its winemaking to the character of each harvest, producing distinctive wines rooted in their Hampshire origins.

Hampshire is one of England's most important emerging wine regions, with a growing reputation for producing elegant, high-quality sparkling and still wines.

Its combination of a relatively mild maritime climate, chalk-rich soils and rolling countryside provides excellent conditions for cool-climate viticulture.

While Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier dominate sparkling wine production, Hampshire is also increasingly recognised for aromatic varieties such as Bacchus, which thrives in the county's cool conditions and produces vibrant, intensely flavoured whites.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular and versatile white grape varieties, originating from the Burgundy region of France. It is a relatively adaptable vine, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making it widely planted across the globe. Chardonnay ripens early to mid-season and is known for its ability to express terroir, as well as respond well to a variety of winemaking techniques, including oak ageing and malolactic fermentation.

Today, Chardonnay is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country. In France, it shines in Burgundy’s Chablis (crisp, mineral-driven) and Côte de Beaune (rich, complex), and is also a key component of Champagne. In the New World, regions like California, Australia (Yarra Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand, and Chile produce diverse expressions, ranging from lean and citrusy to full-bodied and buttery.

Cool-climate Chardonnays tend to show green apple, lemon, and flinty notes, while warmer regions yield riper flavours like tropical fruit, peach, and melon. Oak-aged Chardonnays may exhibit vanilla, toast, and nutty characteristics, while unoaked versions highlight freshness and purity of fruit.

This remarkable flexibility makes Chardonnay a favourite among winemakers and wine lovers alike, offering a wide spectrum of styles and flavours.

Pinot Meunier is a black grape variety primarily known as one of the three key grapes used in Champagne, alongside Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its name, meaning "miller" in French, refers to the flour-dusted appearance of its leaves. A mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier originated in France and has long been valued for its early ripening and adaptability, especially in cooler climates where other varieties may struggle.

Viticulturally, Pinot Meunier is hardy and frost-resistant, making it ideal for regions such as Champagne. It buds late and ripens early, helping to maintain acidity and fruit freshness. Though historically considered a secondary variety, it is increasingly appreciated for its contribution to fruitiness, approachability, and roundness in sparkling wine blends.

Beyond Champagne, Pinot Meunier is grown in Germany (where it's known as Schwarzriesling), the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, particularly California and Oregon. While most commonly used in sparkling wine, it also produces expressive still wines, particularly in cooler regions.

In terms of flavour, Pinot Meunier tends to show vibrant red fruit notes—such as raspberry, cherry, and strawberry—along with floral and earthy nuances. Its wines are generally softer and more accessible than Pinot Noir, making them appealing in youth and versatile in style.

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most celebrated and challenging grape varieties, renowned for producing elegant, complex wines. Believed to have originated in Burgundy, France, over 1,000 years ago, it thrives in cooler climates where its thin skin and early ripening nature are best suited. Viticulturally, Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow: it is susceptible to rot, mildew, and pests, and requires precise canopy management to balance ripening with acidity retention.

Pinot Noir is planted across the globe, with notable expressions found in Burgundy, Champagne, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast, New Zealand’s Central Otago, and Germany’s Baden and Pfalz regions. In Champagne, it is a key component of sparkling wines, typically blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The wine's diverse geographical range means that you might also find it labelled as Red Burgundy, Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder, or Spätburgunder.

The grape produces wines of delicate colour but remarkable aromatic depth. Typical flavour profiles include red fruits such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, often layered with floral notes, earthy undertones, and hints of spice or forest floor as the wines mature. Styles range from light and silky to more structured and age-worthy, depending on climate and winemaking choices. Pinot Noir’s ability to express terroir with precision makes it a favourite among wine lovers, despite — or perhaps because of — its demanding nature in the vineyard.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular and versatile white grape varieties, originating from the Burgundy region of France. It is a relatively adaptable vine, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making it widely planted across the globe. Chardonnay ripens early to mid-season and is known for its ability to express terroir, as well as respond well to a variety of winemaking techniques, including oak ageing and malolactic fermentation.

Today, Chardonnay is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country. In France, it shines in Burgundy’s Chablis (crisp, mineral-driven) and Côte de Beaune (rich, complex), and is also a key component of Champagne. In the New World, regions like California, Australia (Yarra Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand, and Chile produce diverse expressions, ranging from lean and citrusy to full-bodied and buttery.

Cool-climate Chardonnays tend to show green apple, lemon, and flinty notes, while warmer regions yield riper flavours like tropical fruit, peach, and melon. Oak-aged Chardonnays may exhibit vanilla, toast, and nutty characteristics, while unoaked versions highlight freshness and purity of fruit.

This remarkable flexibility makes Chardonnay a favourite among winemakers and wine lovers alike, offering a wide spectrum of styles and flavours.

Pinot Meunier is a black grape variety primarily known as one of the three key grapes used in Champagne, alongside Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its name, meaning "miller" in French, refers to the flour-dusted appearance of its leaves. A mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier originated in France and has long been valued for its early ripening and adaptability, especially in cooler climates where other varieties may struggle.

Viticulturally, Pinot Meunier is hardy and frost-resistant, making it ideal for regions such as Champagne. It buds late and ripens early, helping to maintain acidity and fruit freshness. Though historically considered a secondary variety, it is increasingly appreciated for its contribution to fruitiness, approachability, and roundness in sparkling wine blends.

Beyond Champagne, Pinot Meunier is grown in Germany (where it's known as Schwarzriesling), the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, particularly California and Oregon. While most commonly used in sparkling wine, it also produces expressive still wines, particularly in cooler regions.

In terms of flavour, Pinot Meunier tends to show vibrant red fruit notes—such as raspberry, cherry, and strawberry—along with floral and earthy nuances. Its wines are generally softer and more accessible than Pinot Noir, making them appealing in youth and versatile in style.

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most celebrated and challenging grape varieties, renowned for producing elegant, complex wines. Believed to have originated in Burgundy, France, over 1,000 years ago, it thrives in cooler climates where its thin skin and early ripening nature are best suited. Viticulturally, Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow: it is susceptible to rot, mildew, and pests, and requires precise canopy management to balance ripening with acidity retention.

Pinot Noir is planted across the globe, with notable expressions found in Burgundy, Champagne, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast, New Zealand’s Central Otago, and Germany’s Baden and Pfalz regions. In Champagne, it is a key component of sparkling wines, typically blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The wine's diverse geographical range means that you might also find it labelled as Red Burgundy, Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder, or Spätburgunder.

The grape produces wines of delicate colour but remarkable aromatic depth. Typical flavour profiles include red fruits such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, often layered with floral notes, earthy undertones, and hints of spice or forest floor as the wines mature. Styles range from light and silky to more structured and age-worthy, depending on climate and winemaking choices. Pinot Noir’s ability to express terroir with precision makes it a favourite among wine lovers, despite — or perhaps because of — its demanding nature in the vineyard.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular and versatile white grape varieties, originating from the Burgundy region of France. It is a relatively adaptable vine, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making it widely planted across the globe. Chardonnay ripens early to mid-season and is known for its ability to express terroir, as well as respond well to a variety of winemaking techniques, including oak ageing and malolactic fermentation.

Today, Chardonnay is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country. In France, it shines in Burgundy’s Chablis (crisp, mineral-driven) and Côte de Beaune (rich, complex), and is also a key component of Champagne. In the New World, regions like California, Australia (Yarra Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand, and Chile produce diverse expressions, ranging from lean and citrusy to full-bodied and buttery.

Cool-climate Chardonnays tend to show green apple, lemon, and flinty notes, while warmer regions yield riper flavours like tropical fruit, peach, and melon. Oak-aged Chardonnays may exhibit vanilla, toast, and nutty characteristics, while unoaked versions highlight freshness and purity of fruit.

This remarkable flexibility makes Chardonnay a favourite among winemakers and wine lovers alike, offering a wide spectrum of styles and flavours.

Pinot Meunier is a black grape variety primarily known as one of the three key grapes used in Champagne, alongside Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its name, meaning "miller" in French, refers to the flour-dusted appearance of its leaves. A mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier originated in France and has long been valued for its early ripening and adaptability, especially in cooler climates where other varieties may struggle.

Viticulturally, Pinot Meunier is hardy and frost-resistant, making it ideal for regions such as Champagne. It buds late and ripens early, helping to maintain acidity and fruit freshness. Though historically considered a secondary variety, it is increasingly appreciated for its contribution to fruitiness, approachability, and roundness in sparkling wine blends.

Beyond Champagne, Pinot Meunier is grown in Germany (where it's known as Schwarzriesling), the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, particularly California and Oregon. While most commonly used in sparkling wine, it also produces expressive still wines, particularly in cooler regions.

In terms of flavour, Pinot Meunier tends to show vibrant red fruit notes—such as raspberry, cherry, and strawberry—along with floral and earthy nuances. Its wines are generally softer and more accessible than Pinot Noir, making them appealing in youth and versatile in style.

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most celebrated and challenging grape varieties, renowned for producing elegant, complex wines. Believed to have originated in Burgundy, France, over 1,000 years ago, it thrives in cooler climates where its thin skin and early ripening nature are best suited. Viticulturally, Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow: it is susceptible to rot, mildew, and pests, and requires precise canopy management to balance ripening with acidity retention.

Pinot Noir is planted across the globe, with notable expressions found in Burgundy, Champagne, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast, New Zealand’s Central Otago, and Germany’s Baden and Pfalz regions. In Champagne, it is a key component of sparkling wines, typically blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The wine's diverse geographical range means that you might also find it labelled as Red Burgundy, Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder, or Spätburgunder.

The grape produces wines of delicate colour but remarkable aromatic depth. Typical flavour profiles include red fruits such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, often layered with floral notes, earthy undertones, and hints of spice or forest floor as the wines mature. Styles range from light and silky to more structured and age-worthy, depending on climate and winemaking choices. Pinot Noir’s ability to express terroir with precision makes it a favourite among wine lovers, despite — or perhaps because of — its demanding nature in the vineyard.