Denbies Winery, Surrey
One of the UK’s largest producers, Denbies vineyard was first planted in 1986 and is still run by the same family who have turned the property into a hotel, two restaurants, a farm and a gift shop. In addition to themed dinners in the Gallery restaurant with wine tastings before dinner, guided tours are offered both inside the winery and in the vineyard. The Denbies Hotel has 17 comfortable rooms with a wonderful view of the vineyards and its own restaurant. Beyond the vines, the Surrey Hills have excellent walking and biking trails, and the pretty main drag of Dorking is just a few minutes’ drive away.
Double rooms from £ 145 B&B, denbies.co.uk
Three Choirs Vineyard, Gloucestershireester
The vines at Three Choirs, one of the oldest vineyards in the UK, stretch over 75 acres and offer a self-guided walking route, as well as guided tours and tastings. Stay in the middle of the vines in a luxurious lodge with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private veranda, or make yourself comfortable in a room with a view of the vineyards. A brasserie offers tapas cuisine and a selection of local cheeses – perfect fuel for a stroll in the nearby Malvern Hills or a morning exploring Gloucester.
Double rooms from £ 145 B&B, three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk
Tillingham, East Sussex
Converted barn charm in Tillingham. Photo: Andrew Hayes-Watkins
Tillingham, a 13th century farm, is surrounded by 70 acres of lush Sussex countryside with cattle grazing alongside the vineyards. Guests are cordially invited to explore the ancient forests and vineyards on their own or to make themselves comfortable at the bar to sample a glass or two of wine along with small plates. The original hop barn has been converted into 11 stylish rooms and the restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday. The picturesque mountain town of Rye is very close – 8 km across the fields for avid hikers or just 15 minutes by car.
Double rooms from £ 165 B&B, tillingham.com
Jabajak, Carmarthenshire
Photo: PR
Jabajak produced its first harvest in 2014 and offers daily tastings of its white and sparkling rose, as well as self-guided tours of the vineyards. The restaurant prepares dishes using ingredients from the property’s kitchen garden and surrounding farms and producers. Book “the Nook” for a private table for two on a balcony in the eaves. There are eight rooms, some with a slipper bath and four-poster beds.
Double rooms from £ 110 B&B, jabajak.de
Hush Heath Estate, Kent
Looking out over the prospect of Hush Heath.
Home of the award-winning Balfour wines, produced on the property since 2004, is a magnet for nature lovers and vinophiles alike. Ancient oak forests and apple orchards lie close to the vineyards and are waiting to be explored on your own or on a guided tour. There are tasting master classes, as well as art and wine tours that focus on the Balfour painting and sculpture collection. Owned by Hush Heath, the Goudhurst Inn is a lovely gastropub with rooms just a few minutes’ drive from the vineyard.
Double rooms from £ 89 B&B, thegoudhurstinn.com
Tinwood Estate, West Sussex
Photo: Tinwood Estate
Sparkling wine lovers should book Tinwood, just a few miles from the elegant city of Chichester. Vineyard tours last 90 minutes and include three glasses to try, or there are miles of hiking and biking trails to explore independently. Three wooden huts were positioned over the vines with a view of the sunset and have a barrel sauna, a double whirlpool and the use of mountain bikes. There is no restaurant but a handful of excellent pubs within a 10-minute drive.
Double rooms from £ 195 room only, tinwoodestate.com
Ryedale Vineyards, North Yorkshire
Cozy accommodation at Ryedale Vineyards.
The vines at Ryedale, the UK’s northernmost commercial winery, are just outside the market town of Malton and produce red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, as well as cider and apple juice from the estate’s orchards. Tours and tastings are offered April through October, and guests can explore the six acres or picnic in the fields. The farmhouse has two cozy en suite bedrooms and breakfast is the perfect way to start a day exploring the surrounding North Yorkshire Wolds.
Double rooms from £ 110 B&B, ryedalevineyards.co.uk
Secret Valley, Somerset
Shepherd’s hut in the Secret Valley.
Secret Valley, a beautiful piece of land on the southern edge of the Quantock Hills, is part farm, part vineyard and part glamping site with tents, huts and deluxe lodges (for up to five people). The five hectares of vineyards produced their first harvest in 2010, and guests can book tastings of the red, white, rosé and sparkling wines produced on the property. A great choice for families and groups, with farm tours, play barn and all kinds of activities, from canoeing to zorbing, bookable through the Black Rock Outdoors Activity Center, which is also located on the farm.
Shepherd’s hut for two from £ 145 secretes-tal.de
Black Chalk Vineyard, Hampshire
Rolling out from the banks of the River Test, Black chalk, a small batch maker of award-winning sparkling wine, is a gem under the radar. Private tours and tastings combine time in the vineyards with the chance to sample both wines over local cheeses and charcuterie. Four Wild Escapes Treehouses are scattered in the forest, which also belongs to the vineyard; An outdoor swim is the place to sip a glass or two and watch the sun go down behind the trees.
Treehouse for two from £ 274 B&B, canopyandstars.co.uk
Castlewood Vineyard, Devon
The Corbett family first planted the vines in Castlewood in 2006, producing still and sparkling wines in small batches; Through the “open cellar door”, visitors can come at any time for tasting or shopping in the winery shop (call in advance). Although the vineyard feels wonderfully rural, it’s only a short drive to the pretty coastal towns of Lyme Regis and Beer, making it an ideal base from which to explore the beautiful Devon coastline. Stay in one of the two listed cottages, each with six beds and a wonderful view over the vineyards.
One week from £ 655, Castlewoodvineyard.de
