Although some argue that vine growing and winemaking existed in pre-Roman Britain, it is widely accepted that vine was introduced to Britain in 43 AD. The first commercial vineyard in England was erected in 1952 in Hampshire. And it’s fair to say that the expansion of vineyards after this period was rocky and slow. However, fast forward to the twenty-first century, the wine industry in England and Wales is blooming!
Wine is now one of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors in the UK, with plantings having tripled since 2004. That said, it should be of no surprise that vineyards in England and Wales have won prestigious awards and equally produce some of the best wines in Europe. Here’s a list of the best vineyards to visit in England and Wales.
Vineyards in Kent
Famously known as the ‘Garden of England’, the English county of Kent is well renowned for producing vines of the highest quality.
Gusbourne Wine Estate | Ashford
Stretching across one hundred and fifty acres, the Gusbourne Wine Estate is one of the best vineyards to visit in Kent. Combining age-old traditions with modern technology and cutting-edge equipment, Gusbourne Wine Estate are leaders in the field of precision wine-making.
Producing award-winning still, sparkling and English wines; the Gusbourne Wine Estate offers a range of tours starting at £25 per person.
Vine varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
The Mount Vineyard | Sevenoaks
Nestled in the quaint village of Shoreham is an award-winning, 140-acre estate called The Mount. The unique micro-climate of the Darent Valley produces vintages, unlike anything you have ever tasted!
With eight different vine varieties planted across its 10-acre vine estate, The Mount Vineyard is undoubtedly one of the best vineyards in England. Offering wine-tasting classes all year round, visiting The Mount makes for a great day out from London. Wine tasting classes last for approximately 1-hour and costs £30 per person.
Vine varieties: Pinot Noir, Rondo, Regent, Bacchus, Seyval Blanc, Phoenix, Siegerrebe and Chardonnay.
Balfour Hush Heath Estate | Tonbridge
Set across 400 acres, the Balfour Hush Heath Estate is one of England’s most respected wine producers.
Its vineyard varietals include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. However, the Balfour Brut Rosé is the most acclaimed, marked as the official English wine of the London 2012 Olympics and the first English Sparkling wine to be served in BA First Class.
The Balfour Hush Heath Estate offers a wide variety of walking and tasting tours; self-toured tasting starts from as little as £5 per person and includes three wine samples; alternatively, its tasting masterclass starts from £25 per person.
Biddenden Vineyards | Ashford
First established in 1969 and respectively one of Kent’s original vineyards, Biddenden’s is one of the best vineyards in the UK.
Set across 23 acres, Biddenden’s produces 12 vine varietals which include its signature Ortega; a German grape developed from crossbreeding Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe, as well as Bacchus, Dornfelder, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Reichensteiner and Scheurebe.
Biddenden offers both private and self-guided tours with two walking routes which start from £5 per person and includes three wine samples.
Vineyards in Sussex
The largest wine region in the UK, accounting for over a third of English wine production, Sussex is undeniably home to some of the best vineyards in England and Wales.
Bolney Wine Estate | Bolney
Pioneers of English Wine, Bolney Wine Estate is one of England’s oldest and most beautiful vineyards. Bolney produces award-winning still, sparkling and English wines.
On its eighteen acres, vineyard varietals include Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Dornfelder and Rondo. Offering various vineyard and wine tasting tours, Bolney Wine Estate is an incredible and one of our favourite vineyards. Bolney Wine Estate is a formidable vineyard, offering exquisite wine and food tasting tours, virtual tours, and cheese and wine tours for as little as £22.50 per person.
Premium varietals: Pinot Noir, Rondo, Dornfelder, Chardonnay, Bacchus and Pinot Gris.
Rathfinny Wine Estate | Polegate
Established in 2010, Rathfinny Wine Estate is a two hundred and thirty-acre estate dedicated to producing the best British sparkling wines
Offering tours all year round, Rathfinny Wine Estate provides visitors with guided as well as self-guided tours. The most popular tour is the Summer Estate Tour, which occurs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and lasts approximately 2-hours and costs £25 per person.
Vine varietals include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris.
Ridgeview Wine Estate | Ditchling
Producing the highest quality of British sparkling wines, in 2017, Ridgeview was announced as the official sparkling wine of No. 10 Downing Street.
Focusing solely on the production of sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, Ridgeview Wine Estate is one of the best vineyards to visit in England and Wales. Offering all-year-round wine tasting tours, Ridgeview is one of the most renowned sparkling wine vineyards in Europe.
Vine varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Producing an estimated 20% of all organic vines grown in the UK, Oxney Wine Estate prides itself on being a low intervention and sustainable vineyard.
Set across 35 acres, vine varietals include Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noi, and Pinot Meunier.
Oxney’s vineyard offers a vineyard tour and post-tour picnic lunch, both costing £20 per person,
Vineyards in Devon, Cornwall and Wales
Though unlikely regions for vineyards, Devon and Cornwall is home to some of the very best vineyards in England. The wet and windy climate makes wine-making a highly challenging and sophisticated task, but nonetheless, vineyards in Devon, Cornwall and Wales produce spectacular wines.
Castlewood Wine Estate | Musbury
Specialising in sparkling and still wines, Castlewood Wine Estate is a well established and refined vineyard prized for its minimal intervention methods.
Producing some of the finest English wines, Castlewood Wine Estate is one of the best vineyards to visit in England. Vineyard tours and tasting are available by appointment only and cost £20 per person for a minimum of six people.
Vine varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Meunier and Bacchus.
Sharpham Wine Estate | Totnes
Producing high-quality English wines, Sharpham Wine Estate is one of the best vineyards in the South-West.
Producers of still and sparkling wines, Sharpham’s vineyard and wine tasting tours start from £15 per person. Guided tasting tours include a tour of the vineyard and tasting four wines and two kinds of cheese.
Camel Valley | Bodmin
Established in 1989, Camel Valley is an award-winning vineyard that produces various still, sparkling and Cornish wines.
The first and only vineyard in England to hold a Royal Warrant, Camel Valley is ranked one of the best vineyards in England. Guided tours are available Monday to Friday and start from as little as £5 per person.
Vine varieties: Bacchus, Chardonnay, Dornfelder, Pinot Noir, Reichensteiner, Rondo and Seyval Blanc.
Llanerch Wine Estate | Pontyclun
One of the oldest vineyards in Wales, Llanerch is a 20-acre estate of woodlands, gardens and vineyards.
Producers of the award-winning Cariad wines, Llanerch Wine Estate is one of the best vineyards to visit in Wales. Offering all year round vineyard tours and tasting, Llanerch Wine Estate tours start from £15 per person.
Vine varieties: Seyval Blanc, Kernling, Pinot Noir, Triomphe, Reichensteiner and Solaris.
Best Vineyards in England and Wales
So there you have it, a handpicked list of the best vineyards in England and Wales. It’s worth saying that the vine industry is continually growing and expanding across the United Kingdom, and the same is true for vine varieties. That said, our humble list is constantly under review and, in the same vein expanding to include up and coming vineyards.
Are you thinking about visiting London? Then why not take a look at our recent article, Best Restaurants in London.