The 2014 Spring Lunch will be held at Danebury Vineyards at the kind invitation of Ernst Piech on Saturday 26 April commencing with a tour of the vineyards at 12:00 followed by a tasting lunch and short introduction to each accompanying wine. We anticipate the lunch will be concluded by 3.30 pm and wines will be available for sale on the day for anyone wishing to take some home with them.
Danebury is situated in the hills of Hampshire just above Stockbridge, a delightful 18th century county town, famous for the River Test and its excellent trout fishing, and also for its historical racecourse. Stockbridge was considered amongst the finest of the provincial racecourses in Victorian times, with the patronage of the then Prince of Wales.
The adjacent Danebury stables was a prestigious yard run by the Day family (of whom Lester Piggot is a descendant), who were well known trainers and jockeys, and which accommodated racehorses belonging to nobility of the day such as the Duke of Beaufort, Marquis of Hastings and Lord Sherborne.
This thriving venue for racing enthusiasts fell into decline after the death of one of its owners and closed in 1898, despite King Edward VII’s bid to purchase the course. The training of horses however continued at Danebury until the mid 1900’s, when it became a private estate, currently owned by Mr Ernst Piech.
The vineyards cover seven acres (2.8ha) of sheltered, south-facing fields on chalk and flint-stone soil. The first vines were planted in 1988 and today produce the flagship vintage brut sparkling wine ‘Cossack’, two varietal still white wines Madeleine Angevine and Schrjnburger, and the Danebury Reserve, a blend of all the grape varieties. Danebury wines have won international awards and are poured in some top establishments in Hampshire, and London.
