For collectors and connoisseurs of wine, Condé Nast Traveller’s review of ‘The Best Vineyards in England and Wales’ offers up a wonderful selection of great wineries to visit this summer.
Introduced by the Romans, winemaking in England and Wales has made a huge comeback since the 1950s, with over 450 working vineyards located throughout the UK today. 30 are now open to the public and offer winemaker-led tours, self-guided walks and, in some cases, overnight accommodation or cookery classes. Condé Nast selects 14 of the best to visit.
In the article, its editor, Sarah James, explains: “Often small and independent, no two vineyards are alike, but all offer an interesting foodie angle on the British countryside. Some are polished and commercial (Hush Heath Estate in Kent), others charmingly eccentric or set on lovely old farms (Giffords Hall in Suffolk); a few are even cool, such as Castlewood in Devon. Yes, they are all trying to sell you something, but it’s not a hard sell when you’re into their sparkling wares.”
Wineries highlighted by the publication include:
TINWOOD ESTATE, West Sussex, where Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are grown. Website: tinwoodestate.com
GUSBOURNE, Kent, focuses on producing vintage sparkling wines in Kent’s warm microclimate. Website: gusbourne.com
TILLINGHAM, Sussex, a more recently established vineyard that believes in organic and low intervention wine production. Website: tillingham.com
TERLINGHAM VINEYARD, Kent, where the family focus on natural wines. Website: terlinghamvineyard.co.uk
CAMEL VALLEY, Cornwall, planted their first 8,000 vines in 1989. Its tasting terrace and two stone-built holiday cottages have wonderful views over the central Cornish countryside. Website: camelvalley.com
LLANERCH VINEYARD, Wales, set in the beautiful Glamorgan Valley has a hotel set in the middle of its vines. Website: llanerch.co.uk
RYEDALE VINEYARDS, Yorkshire, is the most northerly commercial vineyard in England and produces award winning wines. Website: ryedalevineyards.co.uk
GIFFORDS HALL VINEYARD, Suffolk, is family owned and produces a range of English wines including superb East Anglian Sparkling wines, award winning rosé and aromatic Bacchus. Website: giffordshall.co.uk
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