Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey
One of the largest producers in the UK, the vineyard at Denbies was first planted in 1986 and is still run by the same family, who have developed the estate to encompass a hotel, two restaurants and a farm and gift shop. Tours, both inside the winery and out in the vineyard, are on offer, alongside themed dinners at the Gallery restaurant, with pre-meal wine tastings. The Denbies hotel has 17 comfortable rooms, with glorious vineyard views and its own restaurant. Beyond the vines, the Surrey Hills offer excellent walking and cycling and Dorking’s pretty high street is only a few minutes drive away.
• Doubles from £145 B&B, denbies.co.uk
Three Choirs Vineyard, Gloucestershire
One of the oldest vineyards in the UK, Three Choirs’ vines stretch across 75 acres, with a self-guided walking route as well as guided tours and tastings. Stay right among the vines in a luxury lodge, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private veranda, or cosy up in a vineyard-view room. A brasserie offers tapas-style cuisine and an array of local cheeses – perfect fuel for a walk in the nearby Malvern Hills, or a morning exploring Gloucester.
• Doubles from £145 B&B, three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk
Tillingham, East Sussex
A farm dating back to the 13th-century, Tillingham is surrounded by 70 acres of lush Sussex countryside, where livestock grazes alongside the fields of vines. Guests are welcome to explore the ancient woodland and vineyards under their own steam, or settle in at the bar to try a glass or two of wines along with some small plates. The original hop barn has been converted to house 11 chic rooms and the restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday. The picturesque hilltop town of Rye is close by – five miles across the fields for keen walkers, or an easy 15-minute hop by car.
• Doubles from £165 B&B, tillingham.com
Jabajak, Carmarthenshire
Jabajak produced its first harvest in 2014, and offers daily tastings of its white and sparkling rosé, along with self-guided tours through the vineyard. The restaurant produces dishes using ingredients from the estate’s kitchen garden and surrounding local farms and producers. Book “the Nook” for a private table for two on a balcony in the eaves. There are eight rooms, some with slipper baths and four-poster beds.
• Doubles from £110 B&B, jabajak.co.uk
Hush Heath Estate, Kent
Home to the award-winning Balfour Wines, produced on the estate since 2004, Hush Heath is as much of a draw for nature lovers as vinophiles. Ancient oak woodlands and apple orchards lie cheek-by-jowl with the vineyards, all waiting to be explored independently or on a guided tour. There are tasting masterclasses on offer, along with art and wine tours that focus on the Balfour collection of paintings and sculpture. The Goudhurst Inn, owned by Hush Heath, is a lovely gastropub with rooms a few minutes drive from the vineyard.
• Doubles from £89 B&B, thegoudhurstinn.com
Tinwood Estate, West Sussex
Lovers of sparkling wine should book into Tinwood, situated a few miles from the elegant town of Chichester. Vineyard tours take 90 minutes and include three glasses to try, or there are miles of walking and cycling trails to explore independently. Three wooden lodges have been positioned to face the sunset over the vines, and boast a barrel sauna, double whirlpool bath and use of mountain bikes. There’s no restaurant, but there is a handful of excellent pubs within a 10-minutes drive.
• Doubles from £195 room-only, tinwoodestate.com
Ryedale Vineyards, North Yorkshire
The most northerly commercial vineyard in the UK, Ryedale’s vines lie just outside the market town of Malton and produce red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, alongside cider and apple juice from the estate’s orchards. Tours and tastings are available from April to October, and guests can explore the six acres, or take a picnic up into the fields. There are two cosy en suite rooms in the farmhouse, and the slap-up breakfast is the perfect way to start a day exploring the surrounding North Yorkshire wolds.
• Doubles from £110 B&B, ryedalevineyards.co.uk
Secret Valley, Somerset
A gorgeous slice of land on the southern edge of the Quantock hills, Secret Valley is part farm, part vineyard and part glamping site, with tents, huts and deluxe lodges (sleeping up to five). The five acres of vines produced their first crop in 2010, and guests can book tastings of the red, white, rosé and sparkling wines produced on the estate. This is a great choice for families and groups, with farm tours, a play barn and all manner of activities, from canoeing to zorbing, bookable through the Black Rock Outdoors Activity Centre, also found on the farm.
• Shepherd hut for two from £145, secret-valley.co.uk
Black Chalk Vineyard, Hampshire
Rolling out from the banks of the River Test, Black Chalk, a small-batch producer of award-winning sparkling wine, is an under-the-radar gem. Private tours and tastings combine time in the vineyards with the chance to sample both wines over locally sourced cheeses and charcuterie. Four Wild Escapes Treehouses are dotted in the woodland that also belongs to the vineyard; an outdoor bath is the place to sip a glass or two and watch the sun drift down behind the trees.
• Treehouse for two from £274 B&B, canopyandstars.co.uk
Castlewood Vineyard, Devon
The Corbett family first planted the vines at Castlewood in 2006, and produce small-batch still and sparkling wines; their ‘“open cellar door” policy means visitors can come for a tasting or to buy from the vineyard shop at any time (ring in advance). Although the vineyard feels wonderfully rural, it’s a short drive to the pretty coastal towns of Lyme Regis and Beer, making it a great base for exploring Devon’s beautiful coastline. Stay in one of the two Grade II listed cottages, both sleeping six, with glorious views across the vineyard.
• A week from £655, castlewoodvineyard.co.uk
