If you didn’t know, there are other fabulous destinations to go wine tasting than Napa Valley. Britain is one of them, is home to a varrying selection of vineyards that produce a wide range of local wines. From the greenery of Kent and Dorset to the rolling hills of Yorkshire and even Wales, a visit to one of the wineries can add to your client’s experience when heading across the pond.
The best way for your guests to take in the English wine experience is via one of the English Wine Tasting and Tours, which also operate from central London to wineries in Kent and Sussex.
With wine offerings in a number of counties, there’s plenty to book your wine-loving clients on.
Langham, Dorset
Occupying 30 acres at Crawthorne Farm, the Langham Wine Estate takes a ‘low-intervention’ approach to its growing process in a bid to limit its environmental impact. What results is a mix of terroir-driven sparkling wines from hand-picked grapes that are processed on site. Visitors can be talked through the entire process during a 2-hour guided tour and tasting. Alternatively, they can head on a self-guided tour, before treating themselves to lunch or afternoon tea in the Vineyard Cafe, set in a former 19th-century milking parlour.
Rodington, Shropshire
Hidden away in the heart of picturesque Shropshire is Rodington Vineyard, a family-run 10-acre site that offers fine wines. Their Blue Tractor Wines are internationally recognised for their quality, and visitors can arrange tastings and a visit to the vineyard during its opening hours—10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (closed Wednesdays).
Giffords Hall, Suffolk
Renowned for its array of sparkling wine, rosés and reds, Giffords Hall in Hartest, Suffolk is set on the clay soils of a former glacial riverbed. Taking advantage of its geographic location, it produces quality grapes that are high in both natural sugars and acids—a fantastic combination for both sparkling and dry aromatic wines. Visitors can take part in private or group tours, and dogs are also welcome, although they must be kept on a lead to protect the vineyard’s collection of free-roaming lambs and chicks. Grand Tours of the vineyard also take place on selected dates throughout the summer, featuring a guided tour and tasting session with three wines and three liquors.
Three Choirs, Gloucestershire
With a unique microclimate that is perfectly suited to grape growing, the Three Choirs vineyard and brasserie is found amid the scenic beauty of the Cotswolds. Having first been planted in 1973, the 75-acre site near Newent is among England’s oldest vineyards and is best explored via a guided tour. Visitors can also stay among the vines in one of the luxury vineyard lodges, which offer verandas on two sides for soaking up the sun and the scenery. The Brasserie has a menu packed with country classics and plates that are designed around the seasons using fresh ingredients from the region. Booking in advance for tours and tastings is a necessity.
Camel Valley, Cornwall
Nestled in the spectacular Cornish countryside in Bodmin is Camel Valley, developed by husband and wife pair Bob and Annie Lindo. They’ve been making wine at the site for two decades and possess a Royal Warrant for their sparkling wine from the Prince of Wales. All of the wines produced at Camel Valley are sold in the onsite shop too, meaning visitors can sample the flavors even when Grand Tour tastings are fully booked. Sit back and relax on the terrace or follow the Camel Trail through the farm to the picturesque sandy beaches of Padstow. The Grand Tour details the entire process of winemaking and is accompanied by a taster session when visitors can try the highly acclaimed Cornwall Brut.
Grand Tours take place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday evenings between April and October, with additional tours at the same time on Thursdays throughout August. Guided Tours also take place at 2:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, between April and September.
Chapel Down, Kent
Using locally sourced fruit and mirroring the Traditional Method that is used to create Champagne, Chapel Down vineyard is known for its still and sparkling wines. Now covering hundreds of acres of prime Kentish countryside, the vineyard is open all year round to visitors, with gift experiences, tasting sessions, and guided tours are all available. Guided tours run throughout the year, and booking in advance is recommended.
Chapel Down supplies iconic British institutions including The Royal Opera House and No. 10 Downing Street, while its wines are also popular with leading chefs Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. Visitors can also enjoy modern British cuisine in the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant The Swan, with its outdoor terrace that overlooks the vineyard.
Greyfriars, Surrey
Occupying close to 50 acres of the Surrey North Downs, Greyfriars is another vineyard that mixes traditional methods with modern wine making technology to create a delightful array of English sparkling wines. Reflecting the unique soil conditions and climate of the region, the wines have won numerous international accolades for owners Mike and Hilary Wagstaff. Tours and tastings run on most weekends, while Greyfriars also hosts open days with free entry on selected days throughout the year. Booking in advance for tours and tastings is recommended.
Hush Heath Estate and Winery, Kent
Hidden away amid scenic Kentish countryside, the Hush Heath Estate and Winery is home to the award-winning Balfour Brut Rose. Alongside the winery is a picturesque Tudor-framed manor house, glorious gardens and acres of ancient orchards and woodlands. Visitors can embark on a self-guided tour at their own pace after picking up a map from the Cellar Door, taking in the spectacular scenery and wildlife on the way before finishing up with a complimentary sample of wine, cider or beer in the tasting room. There’s an option to add more tastings for an additional fee. Tasting tours, full estate tours, and private group tours are also available, but must be booked in advance.
Kingscote, West Sussex
Developed to be a wine tasting break, Kingscote in West Sussex offers not only vineyard tours and tastings, but an all-encompassing countryside experience. The 150-acre estate is also home to Tithe Barn, a spectacular venue used for weddings and events. Visitors can fish at two picturesque lakes known as Leggett Lakes or join one of the public footpaths that meander their way through the estate to discover other attractions in the 2,000-acre Kingscote Valley. Guided tours of the site take in the vines, winery, Tithe Barn and the shop, and feature a tutored tasting of two of the vineyard’s award-winning wines. Vineyard tours with lunch or afternoon tea are also available, as well as a Gourmet Vineyard Tour option.
The vineyard shop is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Tours run from the beginning of April to the end of September and must be booked in advance.
Wyken Vineyards, Suffolk
With its country lanes, tall hedgerows and patchwork fields, the 1,200-acre farm of Wyken is characteristically Suffolk. The 7-acre winery, first established in 1988, produces several award-winning wines that are sold via the shop and the on-site Leaping Hare restaurant. Housed in a 400-year-old barn, the Bib Gourmand awarded restaurant serves a delightful mix of British and European dishes, while Wyken Farmer’s Market runs adjacent to the restaurant on Saturdays, selling an array of local goods, delicious food, alcohol, plants and sculpture. Visitors are encouraged to walk to the vineyard through the grounds of the estate. Alongside the Elizabethan manor house Wyken Hall there is a set of formal gardens that can also be explored.
The restaurant is open daily between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. for lunch, and from 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday for dinner. The cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sunday to Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The Farmer’s Market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Gardens are open daily from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. but are closed on Saturdays.
Sharpen Wine and Cheese, Devon
Producing more than a dozen wines, many of which have won awards internationally, as well as unpasteurised cheeses, Sharpham offers an array of exciting tours and tasting opportunities. Visitors can explore the site overlooking the River Dart as part of a self-directed vineyard walk, or can take part in a Vine to Wine Tour that takes in the vineyard and the winery with expert guidance. The Cellar Door Kitchen, an on-site alfresco kitchen cafe, is open throughout the season and features local ingredients and those picked from the estate itself.
Vine to Wine tours run from April to October at 3 p.m. on weekends. Booking in advance is a must.
Ryedale Vineyards, North Yorkshire
The UK’s most northerly commercial vineyard, Ryedale Vineyards is a small family-run business near Malton at the foot of the North Yorkshire Wolds. Enjoy informal tours and tastings, or relax with a stay at the small B&B at the vineyard farmhouse. The 7-acre vineyard, established in 2007, produces an array of white, red, rosé and sparkling wines, as well as cider and apple juice.
Tours and tastings are scheduled on selected days at 3 p.m. between April and October, and must be booked in advance.
Rathfinny Estate, West Sussex
A relative newcomer to the English wine scene, having been founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Mark and Sarah Driver, the Rathfinny Estate occupies exceptionally beautiful countryside in the South Downs. With vines separated by rows of wildflowers, the picturesque site has glimpses of the Sussex heritage coast and features an abundance of tour opportunities. The state-of-the-art winery on the estate is capable of producing one million bottles of sparkling wine annually, a process that is explained as part of an exclusive tour and tasting experience that includes food at the site’s Tasting Room restaurant. Visitors can also stay at the Flint Barns or explore the Rathfinny Trail, a pathway that weaves its way through a mosaic of habitats, presenting numerous opportunities to spot plants, flowers and wildlife.
Tour, Tastings and Lunch, and Afternoon Tour and Tastings run on selected days between May and September and must be booked in advance. The Rathfinny trail is open daily, but can be closed at short notice for vineyard works.
For more information, visit visitbritain.com.
