A Sparkling Evening of Wine & Conversation with Candover Brook
Celebrating English Wine Week & 20 Years of Local Passion
As we raise a glass to English Wine Week (21st to 29th June), we’re reflecting on a truly special evening we enjoyed earlier this year with the team at Candover Brook. Though the event took place in March, it feels especially fitting to share it now, as we celebrate the incredible craftmanship and community behind English wine.
English Wine Week is a national celebration of England’s flourishing wine industry. It’s time to discover, taste, and support local vineyards and producers. For us at Wellington Farm Shop, it’s also a chance to honour the people and stories behind the bottles we proudly stock.
A Year In The Life Of The Candover Brook Vineyard
Candover Brook, based just 20 minutes away in Candover Valley, is one of those producers. Their vineyard, nestled on Preston Farm, is a regenerative, sustainable haven where biodiversity thrives and every bottle tells a story. We were lucky enough to attend a screening of A Year In The Life Of The Candover Brook Vineyard by Jess Bassett, which followed their 2024 harvest. Held at The Yard, the evening was filled with delicious local canapés and sparkling conversation.
The film gave us an inside look at the vineyard’s journey, highlighting the care and attention to detail behind each bottle. Candover Brook is committed to quality over quantity, with a focus on lower yields to create better flavours. Their approach to viticulture supports biodiversity, improves soil health, and helps prevent disease. The vineyard may appear wild, but it’s all part of their natural farming method.
The name of the wine, Candover Brook, is inspired from the chalk stream that runs through the valley, home to the rare white-clawed crayfish. As an indicator of clean water, its conservation is vital, They are relatively new into the market but have already won some incredible awards. They first planted in 2012 and had their first harvest in 2018. After bottling, the wines are aged on lees for a minimum of 36 months for their brut and 27 months for their rosé.
Fun fact: during cold nights, the team will call upon local volunteers to light candles across the vineyard which protect the vines from frost! It’s a time-sensitive task that helps warm the air around the plants, keeping them safe from the cold.
After the informative and beautifully captured film they held a Q&A /discussion with Mark Sainsbury (co-founder & owner), Craig Livingstone (Director of Farming & Estates) and Samuel Philippot (Vineyard Manager).
Mark shared that one of the biggest challenges in winemaking is the unpredictability of nature. Each year brings a new hurdle, whether it’s frost, mildew, or rain at flowering. This year, a late frost just before harvest was particularly tough. He described it as a humbling experience and sometimes, all you can do is roll with it and adapt.
Did you know: in 2021 we had 171mm of rain between July and October, and last year we had double that with 376mm in the same amount of time.
Samuel explained that they’re continuing to experiment using sheep’s wool on five rows of vines, this time doubling the layers to study its impact on the soil. The results so far have been promising, when they dig into the treated soil, it looks noticeably different. There are more air pockets, an increase in worm activity, and plenty of insects; all contributing to a healthier environment for the vine roots. Samuel “the sheep’s wool was intended to repel snails and slugs; this hasn’t quite worked as planned!”
Craig expressed his pride in the team’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of correct usage on the farm. With five acres of shallow soil perfectly suited for the vineyard, their focus on regenerative farming has not only secured their future but also led to noticeably better produce.
If you’re a fan of great wine and sustainable farming, Candover Brook is definitely worth exploring. Did you know, Candover Brook has areas available to book for private events!
Why We Visit Our Suppliers
At Wellington Farm Shop, we believe in knowing the people behind the produce. Visiting our suppliers like Candover Brook allows us to experience their passion first-hand and bring that same sense of connection and purpose back to our local community. It’s about more than just stocking shelves—it’s about sharing stories, supporting sustainability, and celebrating the rich landscape and traditions that shape our region.
A Milestone Year
This year also marks 20 years since Wellington Farm Shop first opened it’s doors. Reflecting on this milestone, our founder Honor shared:
““We started the Farm Shop in 2005 because we wanted a way of selling what we were growing on the estate from a farming point of view to local people. Before opening the Farm Shop I used to work for Marco Pierre White as a chef in London where I learned about how important fresh ingredients are and how important it is to know where your cooking comes from as that is what creates great food.
I wanted to bring locally sourced, locally produced food to local people and that’s what I’m proudest of, that we can provide that for people who live round here.”