Author: Alana Watkinson
THE MAKERS SALE 2026
Evening Sale on 25th November, 6-8pm
Sale 26th November, 10-3pm
Our Makers’ Sale is returning for 2026 with over 30 fabulous makers’ and designers bringing a wide range of work. Do come and explore – you will find perfect presents, a lovely atmosphere and meet people who truly love what they do.
Wednesday 25th November, 6-8pm – Enjoy a free glass of our wine as you wander, Thursday 26th November, 10-3pm with coffee, cake and a pop up cafe for lunch.
Entry is free and we will be taking donations for Allegra’s Ambition on the door.
Here is a little bit on some of our Makers’:
Kate Barton Designs - Versatile, Classic … short runs on every style and style is the word for Kate’s wonderful clothes. Coats, dresses, shirts and trousers for life.
Nick McMillen - Artist. Nick’s extraordinary drawings have to be seen to be believed. Huge trees, small plants, incredible detail. Originals, prints, postcards and more.
True Grace - Made in Wiltshire and inspired by wildflowers and local fruit, these candles are in a different league. Tomato Vine is our particular favourite. Or maybe Fig. Or maybe Henge.
Lucia Constant - ceramics. Having enjoyed day long queues for her beautiful bowls and jugs last year, Lucia is returning with her subtle palette and eye for perfect form, hooray.
Sarah Tyssen - Sarah’s textiles are wonderful - earthy natural colours, elegant design and a firm favourite with us all. Scarves, blankets, bags and more with new designs each year.
The Stores - some of you will be familiar with this wonderful shop in Hambledon that sells an eclectic mix of homeware, clothing and well, too many things to mention. Their Worry Ring deserves special applause though.
Mariana London - organic soaps and oils made with simple natural ingredients. We stocked these in our shop where Mariana’s Rosemary and Melissa liquid soap sold out in seconds.
Forget Me Not - Catherine’s hot water bottle covers are the best … along with pyjamas, bags, dressing gowns. I hope she brings a lot of dog beds because they went down a storm last year.
Noble and Stace - Mike makes small batches of these award-winning chocolates in West Sussex. He will be at the sale on Thursday but Wednesday night he will be too busy making!
Maiden T-Shirts - for the fashion conscious who know a good t-shirt when they see one, Harry’s designs are fabulous and unique. Our 23 year old son’s favourite present last year.
Eland Books - Barnaby and Rose will bring a selection of their unrivalled books about every corner of the earth. Best sellers include Norman Lewis, Tony Parker, Sybille Bedford … They really do have a book for everyone.
Anna Buxton - best known for her handmade shirts and bags, Anna adds new lines all the time creating wonderful one off pieces that just work - with wonderful attention to detail.
Pressed and Folded - an exciting addition to this years sale, this independent studio run by James and Melissa make standout stationery. Each piece is printed by hand and it shows, in the best possible way. Cards, papers and prints that make you happy.
Christa Davis - a firm believer in the Slow Fashion Movement, Christa is bringing cashmere that has been skillfully recycled/redesigned. You will definitely find your perfect jumper. Then take a look at her baby clothes…
Marzilicious - You just need to see these to believe them! A fantastic cross between mad and marvellous, Jo’s creations taste as good as they look and they look unbelievable. We mean that.
Liz Bauwens - One glance at Liz’s hands and you understand the hard work that goes into making these beautiful and stylish hand-dyed napkins. We hate to use the word elevate but that’s exactly what these do for your table.
Chrissie Probart Jones - so Liz suggested Chrissie to us … and we’re very glad. There are a lot of lampshades and cushions out there, but none of them are as original and one off as these. Think antique textiles and glorious shapes.
Louise Brown - Louise has been at the Sale since we started and we wouldn’t be the same without her amazing log baskets, bread baskets, decorations and as she says “creativity out of, essentially, a pile of sticks”. Welcome back!
Augustine Jewels - having established themselves as creators of timelessly elegant jewellery, this British team is taking a quick trip to Hampshire from Notting Hill (and New York). Luxury for sure, but sensibly priced!
Deirdre Wood - Having trained as a weaver, Deirdre now hand dyes her wool to make hats of divine shape and colour. Each one is unique, wearable, stylish. And flattering.
Albion Tea - In some ways tea is as complex and broad as … wine. But Angela, profound expert on leaves, also knows how to keep it simple. For everyone in your life that enjoys a cup, these teas are the best.
Stephane Gripari - to say that Steph makes boards is to under egg this. You’ll want to display them as much as use them. But they definitely ARE for using - bread, charcuterie, cheese.
Emma Vaughan - We are totally thrilled that Emma has said Yes. Fabulous glaze, organic forms, her ceramics are both beautiful and useful and I think I’m right in saying You Saw Them Here First.
Fior Skincare - Another new Maker, using botanical extracts and packed with vitamins. Jackie is passionate about effective, simple and safe skincare and is bringing cleansers, creams and serums for skins of all ages.
David Fox - David is bringing some of his smaller items (because we couldn’t fit in his bookcases and tables). Candlesticks, bowls, plates… light, elegant and useful. The perfect combination.
Faite Designs - Puff has developed a brilliant style to create both sustainable upcycled clothing and a signature t-shirt. Each piece is hand embroidered, one-of-a-kind and lovingly made.
PLUS Borderlands BREAD, Ant Elias OLIVE OIL, Hortus Poeticus FLOWERS and WREATHS , Bon and Rose ICE CREAM, PROBABLY Max and Fred’s SAUSAGES … Hannah’s COFFEE VAN, Coop’s SOUP, and Nick Hudson’s HONEY which just makes everything better.
NOTHING UNDERNEATH
On the 26th August, we were delighted to partner with With Nothing Underneath (website) for their Jeans Press Day. It was an intimate evening celebrating the launch of our jeans collection, bringing together press, influencers and friends of the brand.
Inspired by men’s tailoring, British heritage and timeless style, WNU was started in 2017 out of the founder’s personal search for shirts that were perfectly adjusted for women, sustainably sourced and stood the test of time.
Pip Durrell is a former Vogue stylist and Tatler editor, she started WNU after years of adjusting men’s shirts for her own use. Combining her fashion knowledge and styling credentials with her own very English, effortless approach to dressing, WNU was born.
Launched from her home city of London, today the brand has grown to encompass an array of wardrobe essentials, from shirts to tailored trousers, that are never led by trends or fleeting style moments, designed to be forever items in which to live a life. WNU is all about simplicity - pared back, laid back, timeless, effortless clothing - just like the women who wear them and the icons that inspired them; Carolyn Bessette, Jane Birkin and Charlotte Rampling.
This event marked the launch of their first and much anticipated denim range, three styles of jeans inspired and named after icons. The Fawcett, The Crawford and The Stevie, all cut and designed with these era-defining stars as inspiration. Simple, elegant and effortless, the collection was a triumph.
The collaboration came about from a serendipitous connection from a photoshoot and The Grange had such a nice alignment, both British brands with similar ethos and style. The event itself took place in the heart of Soho with catering by Xanthe Ross, iced soft drinks by Good & Proper Tea and a competition with Tony's Chocolate. We had a brilliant time with the fabulous team at WNU and were very proud to be part of the day, catching up with some familiar faces and also making some new and brilliant friends.
We were thrilled to be part of such a lovely celebration and hope there are plenty more glasses to raise together soon!
STANDOUT TABLESCAPES
Standout tablescapes go head-to-head with award-winning wine!
We had huge pleasure showing Glassette what we get up to, here at The Grange and they created two of their incredible tablescapes (they are a MAJOR thing!), all inspired by the estate and what makes our wine special.
We left the pairings up to them, to see where they took us… Set up in the vineyard, a classic grazing table of bread, olives, cheese and grapes still on the stem – the grapes stacked high in a tower, a wine bottle sculpted from butter – they take simple things and turn them on their heads. Fancy some CLASSIC? Shop online!
For the PINK they took inspiration from the bottle as well as the wild summer berry and soft, pastry flavours. They leaned in to its blush, coral and cream, colours that also happen to be trending. Another perfectly curated tablescape, wittily echoing its stately backdrop, The Grange.
For pairings they opted for charcuterie layered on crisps. “Manchego cut into triangles. Melon wrapped in prosciutto. Elevated pairings, but nothing that takes itself too seriously.”
Whilst Glassette are shouting all about our top sellers the CLASSIC NV and PINK NV in their edit, that doesn't mean our other wines don't deserve a spotlight at your table. You can shop the full range on our website or visit our CELLAR DOOR which is open Monday-Friday 10-5, Saturdays 11-4.
WHAT IS A WINE HERO?
You may have heard through the grapevine, that Oz Clarke and Tom Surgey are on a mission to uncover the English Wine Heroes of 2026.
The two have tasted over 200 English wines, in all styles. Sharing their notes, top tens, regional reviews and experiences. This year we sent over 3 wines for Oz and Tom to taste including the IWC trophy-winning WHITE FROM BLACK 2019… this is what they said:
“Good, serious sparkling wine. Blackcurrant and crème fraîche, lush black fruits easily balanced by lime zest acidity. It builds confidently in the glass, an impressive wine now and will be even better in a couple of years time.” – Oz Clarke & Tom Surgey
(btw if you do want to know what it will taste like in a few years’ time you need to get some in your cellar now – we’ve only 40 bottles left!)
Oz and Tom also tasted the CLASSIC NV:
“A delightful sparkling; tingles on the palate. Underpinned by Hampshire fine minerality. A serious wine. Lemon zest and all spice. Biscuity crunch - sophisticated depth and concentration. Ambitious and fully achieves it. They call it their Classic, and it is.” – Oz Clarke & Tom Surgey
And the PINK NV:
“A fine rosé. Delicate, prickly pink rhubarb and summer berry fruit. Soaring but subtle acidity, scented with rose hips. Mouthwatering with just a hint of the creamy sweetness of perfectly baked meringue.” – Oz Clarke & Tom Surgey
We’re stoked that two gems of the English wine world are so keen on our wines and suggest you catch their YouTube channel - Oz and Tom’s Wine Heroes.
It would appear we have three of the plucky little blighters!
Celebrating English Wine Week 2026 at The Grange
This year there is more to enjoy in English Wine Week than ever. Having had our wines made under Emma Rice’s expert eye at Hattingley from 2015 to 2021, in 2022 we took the plunge and built our own winery and now, at long last, we are releasing our completely home-made wines – both grown and made here on the Grange estate in the Upper Itchen Valley – and they are more than standing up to Emma’s excellent example…
We entered the CLASSIC NV into the International Wine Challenge and were utterly chuffed when it won a gold medal with 95 points – something our previous CLASSICs (at least in 75cl form) have never managed before – silvers aplenty but no gold... Fine justification for the not inconsiderable outlay of putting up the winery, (phew!).
In the same competition the PINK NV and the WHITE FROM BLACK 2019 also returned with gold medals, with the WFB adding the trophy for sparkling English white wines made from black grapes. The second time we’ve managed that feat so, all in all, its been a banging start to 2026!
Our Thursday Lates are now in full swing at the winery which, it turns out, is the PERFECT spot to enjoy a glass of award-winning English sparkling wine and a bite to eat while being bathed in the fabulous golden light of the setting sun. Whether you're bringing a friend for a chat or sharing a bottle with friends, the wines are served perfectly chilled from the back of our Landrover Bar and will pair beautifully with whatever that week’s food-truck is producing – it’s a match made in heaven…
If you want a more in-depth experience there's never been a better time to visit. Since planting our first vines in 2011 we've been focused on creating exceptional English sparkling wines that reflect the unique character of our vineyard and today, visitors can learn about that journey for themselves through our much-lauded vineyard tours and tastings. You will learn about what goes on in the vineyard and what then happens to our grapes in the winery – finishing up of course with a guided tasting of our current releases.
English Wine Week is a celebration of the people, places and wines that make this industry so exciting. This year, we're celebrating Gold medals, Trophy-winning wines, long summer evenings and the meteoric rise of English wine…
A GIFT FOR YOU:
To help you celebrate we'll be offering Magnums at 20% off when you order before 28th June 2026!
Happy English Wine Week from everyone at The Grange!
The Wine Widow on a Loss In The Family
“The micra has got to go” was the very surprising statement made by our youngest son. Previously he had said, in a variety of ways but with equal weight, “That car means more to me than any family pet.”
The Nissan micra, our second, has been in the family for over 14 years. It has never let us down but it has, for the past few years, accumulated enormous amounts of water in every footwell and a squeegee is needed on the inside of the windscreen at all times or the condensation builds to impenetrable levels. It has been slept in at countless teenage parties and festivals and therefore smells indescribable. Moss, grass and mushrooms are growing out of all trimmings and a sinister mould covers the back of the front seats and headrests. I have no idea what’s in the boot because it doesn’t open and the back seats no longer fold down. I know it’s full though.
I take it to a man in a booth at a shopping centre a few miles away with our elder two children following in another car. The man steps out of his booth and says “bloody hell, has Shrek been living in that?” As with any family member, we can make jokes but other people can’t and I give him a black look. After much tapping on his iPad he says he can offer me £180. I mutely nod. We take photographs because we all feel this is a little bit of a moment.
A woman walks out of Pets At Home nearby and glances at the car. “they really do buy any car.com” I say. “Oh I bet that car’s got a lot of memories” she says and I instantly warm to a stranger who gets this. “It really has” I say, remembering the time Will gave it two punctures on Christmas Eve.
Two days later, with a micra shaped hole haunting us outside the house, we have a car crisis because four people need to go in four different directions. The available car is making terrible grinding noises and everyone is late for everything. “Who knew” says Alf who is about to miss an appointment, “that the micra was the glue holding this family together.”
Thursday Lates 2026
Day: Every Thursday from May until it gets too cold in September,
Time: 5:30pm – 9pm,
Where: The Winery, Alresford Road, Itchen Stoke, Alresford, SO24 0QW
We’re back for 2026 with Thursday Lates, starting this May. No need to book – just turn up and grab a seat!
The Lates run throughout the summer and into September and, as always, we will be bringing out the Landy Bar where you can get hold of our award-winning wines, chilled to the perfect temperature and available by the glass, bottle or case.
Each week we’ll be spotlighting a new local caterer, so there’ll always be something new to try. On the 21st you’ll find Field and Furnace at the winery their steak (by the way) will be a pretty perfect pairing with the WHITE FROM BLACK 2019.
After this we’re being joined by the likes of Pala Food, OFM and of course, Becka Cooper with her delicious (and hyperlocal) game treats. Make sure to follow @thegrangewine on Instagram to discover what nights your favourite foodstuffs will be with us. It’s first-come, first-served - so when the food is gone it will be gone…
Line ups:
MAY
21st – Field & Furnace
28th - Pala Food
JUNE
11th – Field & Furnace
18th – Chaat Street food
25th – Pala Food
JULY
2nd – Becka Cooper
9th – OFM
16th – Down D’Islands
23rd – Chaat Street Food
30th – Pala Food
AUGUST
6th – OFM
13th – Forte Kitchen
20th – Field & Furnace
27th – Pala Food
SEPTEMBER
3rd – Field & Furnace
What started as an after-work get together for the team (on a Friday) has blossomed into a perfect way to spend a relaxing Thursday evening - lovely food, award-winning wine and those beautiful sunset views.
Khal, our Events supremo, has upped the décor and the comfort levels, so you can enjoy it even better (though there will still be some straw bales…), come on over and make the most of his fantastic work!
