Vineyard Tour at Pinglestone Estate
Including Steam Train ride
New tour experience - travel to Alresford on a heritage train to enjoy a tour and tasting at the Pinglestone Estate Vineyard
Your journey begins in Alton, where you will travel through the beautiful Hampshire countryside to Alresford aboard a heritage train. On arrival in Alresford, you will join the yellow shuttle bus outside the station building, which will take you to your vineyard tour.
Discover Pinglestone Estate, the home of Louis Pommery England.
Enjoy a 90 minute guided tour through 40 hectares of enchanting vineyards, the first planted by a Champagne house in England, overlooking the stunning South Downs National Park near New Alresford.
Your experience concludes with a guided tasting of three wines crafted exclusively from grapes grown on the estate.
You will then board the shuttle bus back to Alresford Station, ahead of your return journey to Alton Station.
This experience will depart from Alton at 10:50am or 12:50pm.
What's included?
• Guided tour of local vineyard, in collaboration with the Pinglestone Estate and Louis Pommery England, lasting 90 minutes.
• Each visitor will enjoy a return journey through the Hampshire countryside onboard one of our trains.
• Tasting of three wines, crafted exclusively from grapes grown on the estate.
What's On
• Visitors must arrive at Alton Station at least 15 minutes before the selected departure time (10:50am or 12:50pm).
• Visitors may return to Alton from Alresford Station (departure times: 1:45pm or 3:45pm).
Partners
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.
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.
Tickets
Adults
Price Per Person
£55
Please note:
You will join the service to Alresford at 10:50am or 12:50pm, joining the return service to Alton at 1:45pm or 3:45pm.
There is no reserved seating – you’re free to sit anywhere you like on the train.
Trains may be pulled by either steam or heritage diesel on the day of travel. For further information, visit the loco roster page.
Booking fee of £2.50 may apply.
Parking
Alton:Â Pay & display car park, operated by South Western Railway. Cash or RingGo app location 77475.
The company does not guarantee that the trains will arrive or depart at the times stated and reserves the right to cancel, alter or suspend any train without notice, or to substitute a different train should this be necessary for whatever reason.
