Tobias Tullberg is the Operational Winemaker at Hambledon Vineyard which he joined in 2016. An alumni of the prestigious Vinifera Euromaster program, organised by Montpellier SupAgro, Tobias has studied under the wine world’s top scientists and wrote his Master’s thesis at the industry leading wine research institute ISVV in Bordeaux. After finishing his university studies Tobias worked vintages around the world from Château La Gaffelière in Saint-Émilion and Coume del Mas in Roussillon to Marlborough’s Saint Clair Family Estate via Cape Mentelle of Margaret River, WA. It was an interest in minimal intervention winemaking that led him to contact legendary winemaker Hervé Jestin asking for a recommendation in Champagne, Hervé instead suggested that Tobias should join his winemaking team in England. On the side Tobias is dabbling with natural wine, making two petnats at the boutique Chatzivariti Estate in the north of Greece and writing articles for the leading wine publication of his native Sweden, Livets Goda Magazine.
Founded in 1952 by Major General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon Vineyard is England’s oldest commercial vineyard. Hambledon’s modern history begins with Ian Kellett acquiring the estate in 1999 with the intent of bringing back its’ former glory. Having studied the chalky soil and climatology of the region Ian realised the potential for the production of world class sparkling wine and set about to replant with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. In 2011, after the construction of the UK’s first fully gravity fed, state of the art, winery, things really came together in the appointment of Hervé Jestin, a former leading Champagne Chef de Cave and high profile international wine consultant, as the Head Winemaker.
In 2015 Hambledon Classic Cuvée triumphed in Noble Rot’s now famous Champagne vs. English Sparkling Wine awards finishing first in a tasting including world famous brands such as Nyetimber, Pol Roger, Taittinger and Veuve Clicquot. The feat was repeated in 2020, this time with Première Cuvée NV taking the second place, after Larmandier-Bernier ‘Terre de Vertus’ 2013, again scoring highest of all English Sparkling Wines.
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