The Wine Line
- Wine Tasting Train

The Naked Grape – 2 May & 25 July

The Naked Grape is a proudly independent, family-owned wine merchant dedicated to helping customers find the perfect bottle – regardless of their level of wine knowledge. Their strength lies in genuine, knowledgeable conversation and carefully tailored recommendations.

Every wine on their shelves has been personally tasted and selected by the team. If they don’t love it, they don’t stock it – simple as that. The Naked Grape specialises in wines from small, family-run producers who craft honest, characterful wines with real stories behind them. But above all, it’s about the taste.

They steer clear of mass-market bottles found everywhere else and embrace the joy of discovering wines you won’t find just anywhere. Their curated range spans the globe, offering standout examples and exceptional value across styles and regions.

Enjoy three wines from The Naked Grape on your unique wine tasting journey at The Watercress Line.

Louis Pommery – 2 may

Pinglestone Estate – home to Louis Pommery – was established in 2017 by Vranken-Pommery Monopole, becoming the first Champagne House to plant vines in England. Drawing on over 200 years of heritage and expertise, they selected premium chalk-rich land in Hampshire’s downlands for their 35-hectare vineyard.

Set on a unique 360° aspect overlooking the South Downs National Park and the confluence of the River Itchen and the Arle, the estate grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Gris using regenerative farming methods that prioritise biodiversity and sustainability.

Crafted using the traditional method, the wines are elegant, refined, and proudly English.

Will Perkins, a Hampshire native, began his winemaking journey with Hattingley Valley. After five years as Assistant Winemaker, he gained international experience across renowned wine regions including South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, and Australia. Returning home in 2022 to join Pinglestone Estate, Will sees it as a chance to reconnect with the land and community that shaped him.

Penn Croft – 25 July

Penn Croft was born of a meeting of like minds – Simon Porter, a twenty-year veteran of sustainable agriculture, and Malcolm Walker, a well-travelled filmmaker who’d spent ten years interviewing the world’s most pioneering winemakers.

They discovered a shared vision: to create a planet friendly winery. The kind that uses sustainably grown grapes and champions biodiverse viticulture.

Simon planted the first vineyard in 2019, on the gentle slopes at the low western end of the North Downs in Crondall, Hampshire. This ancient and beautiful area provides the perfect conditions for producing sustainable wine.

Construction of the winery followed in early 2020 and they were open for business by September that year, just in time for the harvest. From two rusty old barns to a fully operational winery in just eight months was quite an adventure to undertake, but they have no intention of putting the brakes on anytime soon.