The English wine industry may be young in comparison to global standards (our oldest vineyards date from the 1960s), but with international awards being won and an upturn in buying local produce, British wines are finally coming into their own. With almost 600 vineyards spreading across our green and pleasant lands, oenophiles no longer need to travel to France or Argentina to wander through vines to sip zingy fizzes or rich reds. From the gentle slopes of Cornwall to rural Suffolk, celebrate your love of wine with a tour of England’s finest wineries.
Sharpham Wine and Cheese, Devon
Rolling down sloping hills to the quiet, meandering River Dart just a short drive from the town of Totnes, the Shapham Estate’s vineyards are beautifully settled in the affluent South Hams. Visitors can wander the grounds by themselves (best enjoyed with a picnic and bottle of the Sparkling Reserve Extra Brut bought from the shop on arrival), join a tour or enjoy a tasting of matched wines and cheeses in the courtyard. With a growing tally of awards under their belt and a collection of wines to suit every occasion and season, this Devon vineyard is a must on any visit to the South West.
Where to stay: Phillimores, Maberly, Peacock Blue
Three Choirs Vineyards, Gloucestershire
With 70 acres of vines producing up to 400 tonnes of grapes, this Forest of Dean vineyard is viticulture with bells on. History by the bucketload and rustling vines facing south into the Cotswolds, here is a tiny piece of Tuscany hidden in quintessential middle England. There are fourteen varieties of wine fruiting from the loins of this vineyard started by humble farmers in 1973, all with sweet notes and best served young, with tasting tours available on prior booking (but get in there quick as numbers are limited!).
Where to stay: Apifera, The Hop Store, Wishbone
Valley Farm Vineyard, Suffolk
Co-owned by friendly duo Elaine and Vanessa (along with miniature poodle, Amber), Valley Farm Vineyard is home to 3000 vines which are meticulously pruned and cared for to produce some of the finest quality wine in the whole of the country. Idyllically situated in bucolic Suffolk, visitors are free to roam between the vines before reclining in the sunshine with a chilled glass of 2018 Madeleine Angevine. Heaven on earth!
Where to stay: The Found, August House
Camel Valley, Cornwall
The wines in the Camel Valley are among some of the finest in the United Kingdom and is Cornwall’s largest and most celebrated vineyard. Founded in 1989 by former RAF pilot Bob Lindo, this vineyard in the north of the county covers 82 acres of south-facing slopes just off the famous Camel Trail cycle route (and offers the most perfect lunch time pit stop!). The Camel Valley Bacchus is best served ice-cold on the vineyard’s sun terrace overlooking pastoral Cornwall. Could there be a finer way to spend a summer's day?
Where to stay: Pixie Nook, The Looking Glass, Arcalia, Saphir Beach House
