Best vineyards to visit in England

[Bobodebo]

I always dreamed of visiting a vineyard in Napa Valley or New Zealand for my 40th birthday. Alas now it’s upon me, I can’t risk travelling abroad due to parent’s terminal cancer diagnosis (they will not be joining us, but I don’t want to travel).

Please hit me with your recommendations for the best vineyards in England (preference for the South East). Somewhere we can enjoy a leisurely experience, with nice food platters and beautiful views to accompany the wine. Ideally we’d get the train from London and a short taxi. Or perhaps stay overnight.

My preference is white and sparkling wine. My birthday is in June.

Thanks x

Seddlescombe is the oldest
Meant to say your,not your. There is a station at Robertsbridge. You would need a taxi to the vineyard

@Savvysix1984

Chilford Hall in south Cambridgeshire is lovely

I second this. We went with a buyagift voucher when there was a 20% off offer. The three course lunch we had was absolutely delicious, although there was no choice. Extremely good value and a great day out.

I did a wine tasting at Tinwood and it was lovely. The accommodation looks fab but Ive never stayed - hoping to one day though www.tinwoodestate.com/

This is beautiful and you can stay there. You can get the train to Chichester then a bus to the vineyard.

www.tinwoodestate.com/

Oops, already suggested!

The Mount Vineyard as someone else mentioned is ideal for your requirements. You can get a train from London, no need for a taxi. The pizzas are delicious as is the wine. It gets very busy in June so do book in advance. They also do tasting sessions.

Check these guys out: instagram.com/vineandcountrytours?utm_medium=copy_link they do tours around Kent/Sussex vineyards and provide food etc.

A few years ago we were staying near Westfield and went to Carr Taylor vineyard, did a self guided tour for £5 a head which included a wine tasting at the end. A bargain!

Apologies for hijacking your thread OP, but you might find this an interesting question anyway and I thought I'd take the opportunity now that your thread has brought out a few enthusiasts.

Some time in the past few years there was a very good year for English Sparkling wine, does anyone know when it was? I'd say it was in the last 5 years, but I know it takes a couple of years to make, so you couldn't buy it straight away, but I remember thinking 'I must get a bottle of that when it comes out' and now I can't remember when it was and googling hasn't helped so does anyone know when this was? I think it was probably pre covid.

Oh, if you're ever in Yorkshire, we have vineyards here too OP.

holmfirthvineyard.com/tour/

yorkshireheart.com/

You'd definitely get the views if nothing else.

Three Choirs maybe outside your area of interest but there is the whole Forest of Dean, Symonds Yat, Malvern Hills to explore too!

www.three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk/

rathfinnyestate.com/

I live near this one and it’s utterly beautiful

Winbirri Vineyard near Norwich. Gorgeous Bacchus, won wine of the year single grape in 2015
www.winbirri.com/

Also came on to suggest Three Choirs

www.three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk/

Thanks everyone, so many great suggestions

Almost too many

Camel Valley in Cornwall (but they don't do food).

Have stayed at Three Choirs in Gloucestershire a couple of times but many years ago - they have lovely accommodation plus a restaurant on site (or they did when I stayed there anyway)

Bolney, the restaurant there has a lovely outlook.

I’m seconding Gusborne, recommended by a PP.

I’ve toured six separate vineyards in the south and Gusborne was the best. No question. Amazing tasting pavilion on the ridge overlooking the vineyard, great quality wine, beautiful setting.

www.the-vineyard.co.uk/ Slightly different suggestion if you were originally considering a trip to Napa, these guys are Californian wine specialists in Berkshire.

But would also recommend Gusbourne

I recommend The Mount in Shoreham as someone also mentioned. Walking distance from the station & they do wine tastings with fantastic cheese and meat platters in a nice courtyard/restaurant setting with a retractable roof.

I'm glad you mentioned the one in Holmfirth @BarbaraofSeville. The views are stunning. The food is great, and they do rooms. I bought a vineyard tour and lunch for DH one Christmas, and due to lockdown we didn't manage to go until the October. It was a gloriously sunny day and it was wonderful.

Ashling Park is lovely, we went there for lunch with friends in February and then did the vineyard tour & tasting. They have lodges you can stay in overnight or you could stay at The Horse & Groom, East Ashling, Saddlers (B&B Funtingdon), the Richmond Arms, West Ashling, or Hallidays in Funtingdon. Lots of lovely walks and close to Chichester (nearest station actually Bosham but too far to walk, a couple of miles on country lanes).

astleyvineyard.co.uk/private-corporate-events/
We live a mile from this vineyard. It’s about 7 miles from Worcester, a lovely county city with plenty to explore. Taxi from city centre is about £20. There is a small riverside hotel close by or a very nice country house hotel with a spa about 6/7 miles away. Also a premier inn attached to the county cricket ground.

Another vote for Denbies here. We went a few years ago and had an amazing time. I just did a quick google and actually found this list of 'The most instagrammable vineyards' in the UK and Denbies is list as one of the best in the world.

If Denbies is too far away, these are others in the list that might be better suited!

www.thethinkingtraveller.com/blog/the-15-most-instagrammable-vineyards#instagrammable-vineyards-uk

We stayed near Ditchling Beacon in Sussex and visited a few nearby.

Court Garden (lovely setting)
Albourne estate
Ridgeview
Bolney estate
Artelium (not producing their own grapes yet but have blends from bought in grapes)

Are all within a few miles. We did a cycling tour but you could do Court Garden, Ridgeview and artelium on a circular walk, probably about two and a half hours of actual walking. Had a great time. We are at Ridgeview and albourne. Both really nice sharing platter things and I think Ridgeview also did wood fired pizzas.

I've also been to Gusbourne which was also really nice. Stayed in a lovely campsite nearby and it was a nice circular walk down a canal and back through the vineyard.