The largest Douro farm owner is buying the UK’s oldest commercial vineyard
The Symington Group, owner of Port wine brands such as Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s, has jointly acquired Berry Bros. & Rudd, one of the most famous producers of English sparkling wine, Hambledon Vineyard.
Of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent, the Symington family has been producing Port and DOC Douro wines since 1882, and is the largest farm owner in the region – they own 26 farms totaling 2,420 hectares, of which 1,114 are vineyards.
Symington Family Estates owns houses in Porto such as Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s, Warre’s and several projects in the Douro (Quinta do Vesúvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano, Prats & Symington – Chryseia), and has just made its international debut, having been acquired by Hambledon Vineyard on Hambledon Vineyard, one of the leading producers of English sparkling wine and the oldest commercial vineyard in the United Kingdom.
“It is the first acquisition by a Portuguese producer of an English sparkling wine company and also represents the Symington family’s first wine production venture outside of Portugal,” the group, based in Vila Nova de Gaia, says in a statement.
Symington acquired Hambledon Vineyard in partnership with Berry Bros. & Rudd, another multi-generational family in the wine sector, whose public takeover bid achieved “90% acceptance by the English producer’s shareholders”, meaning the partners can now proceed with the acquisition of 100% of Hambledon.
“This is a 50%/50% partnership combining two centuries-old wine companies, Symington Family Estates and Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchant and distributor, celebrating its 325th anniversary this year.” , highlights the Portuguese group, which, like its partner, also holds a supply license (royal warrant) to the Royal House of the United Kingdom.
The joint acquisition, which “reflects growing confidence in the dynamic English sparkling wine category and its future potential”, highlights Symington.
An estate located in the southernmost part of England, in the county of Hampshire
The group headed by Jonny Symington says Hambledon “was the first commercial vineyard planted in England, in 1952 (with the help of Pol Roger, the famous Champagne house), and the southernmost estate in England in the county of Hampshire currently has 80 hectares of vineyards planted on… Of limestone, similar to that found in the Grand Cru Côtes des Blancs area in the Champagne region of northern France.
It highlights that it is “one of the few sparkling wine producers in the UK with the capacity to produce over 500,000 bottles of sparkling wine per year from its own production on the estate – on 100% limestone soil”.
Regarding Symington’s first international acquisition, Johnny says it “should be something very special” that would push the group “into producing wine in another country, after five generations in Portugal producing port and other wines.”
“After careful analysis of the English sparkling wine category, we are excited to move forward with the purchase of a major producer, in partnership with Berry Bros. & Rudd,” confirms the Chairman of Symington Family Estates.
“Classic Champagne grape varieties grown exclusively in calcareous soils”
“The quality of the wine is absolutely outstanding and reflects the wonderful nature of Hambledon, with classic Champagne grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay) grown exclusively on limestone soils,” confirms Johnny Symington.
Located in the south of England close to the English Channel, the property “also benefits from a very favorable microclimate”, hence the belief that “we have world-class sparkling wines here that will play a prominent role in the global affirmation of Englishness.” Sparkling wines are recognized as world-class wines.”
In turn, the Chairman of Berry Bros & Rudd celebrated this process with enthusiasm: “We are delighted to be able to confirm this exciting partnership with Symington Family Estates. We share a commitment to viticulture and sustainable wine production and believe that this company, which “was the first English commercial producer of the era Modern, it has the foundations and potential to lead the English sparkling wine category,” says Lizzie Rudd.
“We are two family businesses that have worked together for many years and have a long friendship. We share the same values, the same philosophy and we are very excited about this partnership that will bring stability and growth to this business in a very easy and positive framework for English sparkling wine,” concludes the Berry Bros & Rudd leader.
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