Tap into the autumn/winter dining trend and book a table near the vines. From supper clubs to tasting rooms with exceptional views, Jane Rakison handpicks the South West’s unmissable vineyard dining experiences
Thornfalcon, Somerset
Thornfalcon’s supper clubs turn a simple vineyard visit into something far more immersive. Intimate five-course evenings, held in the estate’s newly renovated ancient barn, bring together the estate’s wines and ciders made by Panu Long with a farm-to-table menu inspired by everything good that Somerset has to offer.
The first of the supper club series is led by Ross Stacey, whose 15 years at The River Café have shaped his cooking style, rooted in Italian tradition, spans open-fire cooking, freshly made pasta and flavours that are sure to be *chef’s kiss. Much of the produce will come straight from the on-site organic gardens and orchards, while the wider larder draws on big-ticket local food names such as Westcombe Dairy and Bonners the Butchers. Over the coming months, feast on menus featuring everything from scallops, mushrooms and partridge to hake, quince and winter squash. With plenty more guest chefs and supper clubs in the calendar, this is a dining experience worth keeping on the radar. It also comes with the added (optional) bonus of staying in one of the three creatively designed spaces dotted across the bucolic farm.
Castlewood, Devon
Castlewood is giving vineyard dining a local spin between now and Christmas, starting with a monthly supper club collab with Half Penny Farm. Half Penny founders and chefs Chiara Tomasoni, a MasterChef: The Professionals finalist, and Connor Reed, a Food Lifestyle Chef of the Year finalist, will take charge of the Axminster kitchen, cooking a three-course feast (plus a few extra nibbles) that celebrates the farm’s own-reared and homegrown produce.
Castlewood owners and winemakers Rob and Kate will keep glasses topped up at each event, pairing dishes with the vineyard’s holistic wines. The evenings have all the ingredients for a gorgeous night out, and with a supper club taking place each month until the end of the year, there are plenty of opportunities to pull up a chair.
Wraxall Vineyard, Somerset
Make a day of it at Wraxall, one of Somerset’s oldest vineyards and an especially lovely spot to see wine, food and landscape come together. At its heart is The View@Wraxall, a restaurant, wine bar and tasting space overlooking the vines and surrounding hills, where seasonally changing menus champion local produce alongside the estate’s still and sparkling wines.
Fancy a more intimate vineyard experience? The Nook offers secluded outdoor dining among the vines, with dishes cooked over an open fire. Add a vineyard tour or tasting to the mix, and you can follow Wraxall’s wines from grape to glass, including its aromatic Bacchus, still rosé and traditional-method sparkling wines. There’s no need to rush off either: three vineyard cottages and two handcrafted shepherd’s huts offer the chance to bed down among the vines and wake up to those glorious Somerset views.
Carvers Hill, Wiltshire
French flair meets Wiltshire wine for a one-off dinner at Carvers Hill estate in October. The Funghi Club chef-patron Laurent LeBeau, who has worked at some of the country’s top dining spots, is set to take over the estate’s impressive dining hall at its state-of-the-art winery. Laurent’s menu goes all in on refined French cooking, with dishes including scallops, lobster jelly and sole paupiette, followed by beef cheek with sauce bordelaise and a petit lemon meringue tart.
The wine pairings are pretty exciting too. Carvers Hill’s English wines will be poured alongside a red from its sister property, Domaine de Bellevue in Bordeaux, giving diners a taste of two very different wine regions in one sitting. Look out for Carvers Hill’s Chardonnay, an extremely limited release of just 1,200 bottles.
Polgoon Vineyard & Orchard, Cornwall
For food with a little theatre, Polgoon is welcoming Smoke ‘n’ Grill creator and chef Joe Rousell for a live-fire pop-up among the vines in mid-September. Seasonal produce will take centre stage, cooked over open flames and Josper charcoal to create a fire-kissed feast against the backdrop of the Cornish vineyard.
It’s set to be a beautiful evening at Polgoon, where wine, cider and juice are produced on the Penzance estate, and the pop-up offers an enticing way to experience the vineyard beyond a traditional tour or tasting. With the cooking taking place outdoors and vine-filled views providing the backdrop, this is alfresco dining stripped back to its most elemental: quality produce, glowing coals and a glass of something local.
Enjoyed our 5 of the best vineyard dining experiences? Check out our favourite spots for sea swims and supper.
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