The best English vineyards for tours and tastings

These are our 24 top vineyards in England

• Artelium Wine Estate, West Sussex
• Balfour Hush Heath Estate & Winery, Kent
• Beacon Down Vineyard, East Sussex
• Bolney Wine Estate, West Sussex
• Breaky Bottom, East Sussex
• Bride Valley, Dorset
• Busi Jacobsohn Wine Estate, East Sussex
• Camel Valley, Cornwall
• Court Garden Vineyard, East Sussex
• English Oak Vineyard, Dorset
• Furleigh Estate, Dorset
• Giffords Hall Vineyard, Suffolk
• Greyfriars Vineyard, Surrey
• Gusbourne Estate, Kent
• High Clandon Vineyard, Surrey
• Langham Wine Estate, Dorset
• Mereworth Wines, Kent
• Nutbourne Vineyards, West Sussex
• Ridgeview Wine Estate, East Sussex
• Stopham Vineyard, West Sussex
• Tinwood Estate, West Sussex
• Trevibban Mill Vineyard, Cornwall
• Wiston Estate Winery, West Sussex
• Woodchester Valley, Gloucestershire

Balfour Hush Heath Estate & Winery, Kent

Synonymous with sparkling rosé, the Balfour Hush Heath Estate in Kent is an ideal travel destination for summer visits and an afternoon in the sunshine. Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn’s 400-acre estate was first planted in 2002. Now a thriving winery, visitors can choose to wander around the vineyards, orchards and woods, or select from a variety of tours and tastings. There’s a brand-new restaurant, The View, where you can dine and taste wines among the family’s private art collection. PM

Bolney Wine Estate, West Sussex

Although you might know Bolney more for sparklers than still wines, the likes of its Estate Pinot Noir are now rising up the ranks. Vines were planted by the Pratt family back in 1972, and daughter Sam Lintner now leads the winemaking. The estate has been winning IWSC awards since the 1980s, but these days it’s as much a place for foodies as for oenophiles: tour packages can include afternoon tea, a food-and-wine pairing session or a long lunch in the Eighteen Acre Café, which serves light bites, cheese boards and a Bolney burger to indoor and outdoor diners. LR

Bride Valley, Dorset

Owned by Bella Spurrier and her late husband, the great Steven Spurrier, this is the place for a family to visit. Children can be entertained with their own vineyard quiz while adults can enjoy a guided tour around part of the 10-hectare vineyard and see some of the stunning art and wine memorabilia that was collected by the family over the course of Steven’s long and influential time in the trade. A tasting of three wines finishes off the tour and picnics can be pre-ordered and enjoyed with a glass of IWSC award-winning Cremant NV. PM

Camel Valley, Cornwall

Cornwall’s Camel Valley is probably the most high-profile English vineyard, winning a stack of awards after the first vines were planted by Bob and Annie Lindo in the late 1980s. Their son Sam now runs the estate, and the awards continue to come. The winery even reached the attention of world leaders at the recent G7 summit. Wine-tasting flights and guided tours are available; alternatively visitors can sit on a terrace with a glass of Cornwall Reserve Brut 2018, with its enticing notes of lemon tart and apple blossom. SP

English Oak Vineyard, Dorset

The aptly named English Oak Vineyard features a spectacular 350-year-old oak tree at the heart of its estate. Located near Poole in Dorset, there’s a strong focus on sustainability, with solar power and electric vehicles, as well as beehives and various fauna to see while wandering through the vineyards. Tours and tastings are on offer, plus picnic hampers to enjoy on-site. The venue is also a popular location for weddings – and there’s plenty of bubbly on offer, including IWSC Gold winner Engelmann Brut 2014, to toast the bride and groom. SP

Giffords Hall Vineyard, Suffolk

East Anglia is in on the English sparkling wine action, too. This vineyard is on the site of a Tudor Manor and ancient riverbed, not far from Bury St Edmunds, its vines planted 25 years ago and now in their prime, according to its owners. The land is now managed by the Howard family, who lead large groups as well as private tours through the grounds. If you visit the shop before you leave, you might be greeted by the Giffords Hall pet, “Emily the wine cat”. LR

Gusbourne Estate, Kent

Day-trippers from London can take the train and a short taxi ride to this renowned Ashford winery. Founded by Andrew Weeber in 2004, the estate comprises 60 hectares of Burgundian clones, which head winemaker Charlie Holland brings out the best in for Gusbourne’s award-winning sparkling whites and rosés. As well as lunchtime picnic packages, evening tours on Fridays and late-night opening on Saturdays throughout the summer make Gusbourne a tourist go-to – come by for a glass at sundown in the estate’s restaurant garden. LR

Langham Wine Estate, Dorset

Langham Wine Estate in Dorset started off as a “hobby vineyard” in the late 2000s, according to head winemaker Tommy Grimshaw, but is now a major attraction, with a restaurant and café, gift shop and cellar door for sales and tastings. Regular themed foodie nights take place, as well as winemaker dinners and a variety of tours. The wines themselves are a range of sparklers made from the classic Champagne varieties, including the award-winning Culver Classic Cuvée Extra Brut NV. SP

Nutbourne Vineyards, West Sussex

The first vines at Nutbourne Vineyards were planted 40 years ago, and the estate has been run by the Gladwin family since 1991. Since then, the winery has grown into a full-blown destination, with pop-up restaurants, guided tours and tastings, vineyard picnics, gorgeous views of the South Downs, and even llamas and alpacas on site. Bridget Gladwin, who runs the vineyard team, is also a keen artist and her paintings feature on every Nutbourne label. A full complement of white, rosé, red and sparkling wines are produced, including Nutty Blush Pinot Noir, made the same way as Champagne. SP

Stopham Vineyard, West Sussex

All fizzed out in Sussex? It’s worth a stop-off at Stopham where still wines reign supreme. Of course, they produce English sparkling wine here, but bottlings like Stopham’s Pinot Blanc 2019 have been catching the eyes of critics. Tours of the vineyard – which backs onto the South Downs – and winery take place most Saturdays, led by one of the founding winemakers Simon Woodhead or Tom Bartlett, both Plumpton College graduates. Lunch by the river is an optional but essential bonus. LR

Trevibban Mill Vineyard, Cornwall

The West Country might be better known for its ciders than its wines, but you can have the best of both worlds at Trevibban Mill in Padstow, an orchard and vineyard. In 2008, Engin & Liz Mumcuoglu transformed an arable farm into a drinking destination where the English Southdown sheep still roam. There are three levels of tours, with the option to finish up on the viewing balcony, with a flight of wines served with charcuterie and local cheeses. Be sure to sample Trevibban Mill’s Black Ewe Precoce Pinot Noir. LR

Woodchester Valley, Gloucestershire

Situated in the south Cotswolds, Woodchester Valley made its first wine back in 2010, before moving to its current site and establishing the current winery in 2016. The estate now offers a choice of tours, with picnic-lunch options, and special “Fizz and Chips” evenings – plus, there’s on-site accommodation, in the form of three vineyard barn guest rooms, and houses for larger groups. Tastings run throughout the year – try the IWSC Silver medal-winner Reserve Brut Cuvée NV. There’s also a sizeable cellar-door shop five minutes’ drive away in the town of Nailsworth. SP

You can find even more info on English vineyard tours and tastings open to the public this summer at winegb.co.uk. For more from Club Oenologique’s favourites, see our interview with Ridgeview boss Tamara Roberts, who says that English sparkling wine’s journey has only just begun. Or if you’re holidaying in Scotland this year instead, check out our list of the best distillery tours and tastings.