With spring on the horizon and the tasting room once again open, we are very happy to announce the return of Mel Smith and Smiths Kitchen to Langham. Mel’s dedication to serving honest food that celebrates the very best local produce promises to provide the perfect pairing to our wines.
Inspired by her love of food and a naturally inquisitive palette, Mel made the leap into hospitality after a corporate career in sales.
She quickly built a business in the events catering sector and took the opportunity to observe chefs in restaurants and wedding venues, learning the tricks of the trade, before taking on the kitchen at Langham for the first time. After a subsequent spell at Steeptonbill Farm, serving more of Dorset’s wonderful produce, Mel returns to Langham for 2025.
Langham owner, Justin Langham welcomes Smiths;
‘It’s wonderful to welcome Mel back for 2025, we can’t wait for her fantastic cooking and look forward to the splendid, relaxed atmosphere that she creates at Langham.
Smiths Kitchen at Langham will be supplied by local artisans and producers including Rawston Farm Butchery, The Real Cure Charcuterie, Davy’s Locker Fish, The Book & Bucket Cheese Company & Oxfords Bakery, as well as growing their own herbs and edible flowers.
Expect Blue Vinny & Mushrooms on Sourdough and Portland Crab Orzo on the à la carte lunch menu, with local cheeseboards, small plates, and homemade sweet & savoury pastries for lighter options. Homemade cakes and pastries will start at £3, with light lunch dishes from £11. There will also be a set lunch menu with two courses for £25, and 3 courses for £30.
Mel’s fabulous reputation precedes her, and we can’t wait to see the restaurant, terrace and barn full of the sounds, smells and tastes of her gorgeous dishes here at Langham.
March has also seen the return of Fizz Fridays, our regular series of relaxed evening events, showcasing the best of Dorset fizz, food & live music, With the very busy first edition held on Friday 7th March, Smiths Kitchen are serving fantastic handmade pizzas, local shellfish and salads on Fridays throughout the year, while brilliant musicians will perform in our newly refurbished (and heated) Wine Barn.
Booking is recommended but not mandatory. Reservations can be made online for £6.50 and include a glass of our award-winning Culver Classic Cuvée on arrival.
Mother’s Day 30th March
Smiths Kitchen at Langham are serving up a fantastic Sunday roast lunch at just £27 for 2 courses, or £32 for 3 courses.
Afternoon Tea can also be booked in advance for £20pp including a glass of Culver Classic Cuvee.
The Tasting Room & Wine Barn
Mark & Carl are also busy in the tasting room alongside Smiths Kitchen, with the cellar door shop now open again. They will be on hand ready to pour you a glass of our fizz and answer any questions and queries you may have about our growing and winemaking practices, as well as running the guided tours.
About Langham Wine Estate
We are wine growers, proudly based in rural Dorset, in the west of England. We specialise in making low-intervention, traditional method sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes grown on our 34-hectare vineyard on Crawthorne Farm. Our vineyard sits on the same porous, ‘belemnitic’ chalk as found in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs, the hallowed white hills which produce some of the world’s greatest sparkling wines.
Our winemaking style seeks to transparently and honestly represent this incredible terroir. Compared to most sparkling wine producers, we take a hands-off, more oxidative approach to our winemaking, looking towards producers in the ‘Grower Champagne’ movement for inspiration.
We believe his approach leads to layered, textural wines that are responsive to the patterns of each growing season, and give a pure, living expression of these noble grape varieties. This is reflected in our core Classic Cuvées – Culver and Corallian – and highlighted further in our Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and 100% Pinot Noir Blanc de Noirs. Culver, which is based on Pinot Noir shows red fruit, opulence and breadth. Corallian, based on Chardonnay is direct, with a saline minerality and citrus fruit focus.
Recent accolades for Langham Wine Estate
- The Real Review Winery of the Year Great Britain 2024
- WineGB Awards 2024 – Langham’s Corallian Classic Cuvée NV was named ‘Best NV/MV Classic Cuvée’, its Pinot Noir 2019 won ‘Best Blanc de Noirs’ and the ‘Wessex Trophy’ while the strength of the range contributed to it being awarded ‘Best Estate Winery’. Corallian Classic Cuvée NV, Culver Classic Cuvée NV, Rosé NV, Blanc de Blancs NV and Pinot Noir 2019 also received gold medals, and its limited edition still Chardonnay, Search for Enlightenment 2022, earned a silver medal.
- WineGB Wessex Awards 2024 – Langham’s Pinot Noir 2019 received ‘The PIG Wessex Wine of the Year’ Trophy and ‘The Best in Wessex Sparkling Brut’ Trophy.
- Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2024 – Silver medals were awarded to Langham’s Corallian Classic Cuvée NV, Culver Classic Cuvée NV, Blanc de Blancs NV and Pinot Noir 2019, whilst a bronze medal went to Langham’s Rosé NV.
- Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) 2024 – Awarded two Golds for Langham’s Corallian Classic Cuvée NV and Blanc de Blancs and two Silvers for its Rosé and Culver Classic Cuvée NV.
For more information, high resolution photos, or any questions, please contact Calum and Max on office@langhamwine.co.uk, 01258 839095, or @langhamwinery on Instagram.
