May 7, 2025 — Hampshire-based wine estate, Black Chalk has appointed Neil Irvine in the newly created role of Sales Director. He will take up the position on 19th May. Irvine, who was previously Head of UK Sales at Gusbourne, will be responsible for Black Chalk’s sales strategies across UK trade channels and international markets. Prior to his time at Gusbourne, where he has been since 2017, he has held roles at Nyetimber and Berry Bros. & Rudd. He started his career at St John Restaurant where he was Wine Manager and Buyer for more than a decade.
Commenting on his new role, Irvine said: “For over 15 years I’ve been part of the front line of spreading the word and celebrating the advances in the quality of wine produced in the UK. I can’t overstate how exciting it has been to be part of such a wonderful movement where hard work, attention to detail and a real focus on quality, by many talented people, has made such a seismic shift in an industry where change doesn’t come easy or often.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team at the Black Chalk. Watching the early years of this project from a distance, it has been evident that the quality of the wines are testimony to a team of people deeply dedicated to showing what this special place is capable of. I am really looking forward to being a very small part of the future successes with such an inspiring group of people.” Jacob Leadley, CEO and winemaker, added: “We look forward to welcoming Neil into the Black Chalk team; he brings with him a wealth of experience and detailed knowledge of our industry and we know he will be a huge asset for us. A decade on from making our first vintage (2015) and five years on from acquiring our first vineyards and building our winery (2020), Neil’s appointment marks another significant milestone for Black Chalk; as we extend our portfolio, and volumes increase, investing in sales growth is a key focus for us now.”
About Black Chalk
Black Chalk launched in 2018 with two vintage wines: Classic and Wild Rose. Both wines are small-batch and made in the traditional method and are a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Stylistically, purity of fruit is key, along with structure and a complex, balanced palate. The careful use of oak for a proportion of the wines and time on lees helps to develop this complexity.
In 2020 Black Chalk acquired four top vineyard sites in the heart of Hampshire’s Test Valley and opened a winery and tasting room. There are now six wines in the range: Classic; Wild Rose; Dancer in Pink; Rumour Has It; and Inversion and Paragon which launched in May 2024.
