Ashling Park Estate

Ashling Park is close to Chichester on the chalky South Downs. After living here for 20 years, the Gardner family decided it would be a good place to work too and planted their first vines in 2009 in what was the old hay meadow. They now have 13 ha of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir vines spread over two vineyards on loamy soil, in an excellent sheltered position. Sustainable methods are used with minimal pesticide usage in the vineyard. Acclaimed winemaker Dermot Sugrue, who has made wines in Bordeaux and Champagne as well as helping to put Nyetimber, also in Sussex, on the map, was hired as winemaker. He makes these wines at nearby Wiston Park Winery and the results have been spectacular with a string of awards. He is regularly hailed as the best winemaker in England and is passionate about the potential of the South Downs. The same methods are used as in champagne although the lees ageing is much longer than usual, up to a maximum of six years. Despite the use of outside expertise, this is still very much a family affair with Gail’s husband, parents and children very much involved in all aspects of the business which now includes lodges where you can stay on the estate, built by designer and TV presenter, Will Hardie, of ‘Amazing Spaces’ fame.