Vineyard tours and tastings
There’s nothing quite like sipping a glass of wine overlooking the very vines on which its grapes were grown. Experience just that this summer by securing a spot at one of these vineyard tours and tastings
Sandridge Barton, Stoke Gabriel near Totnes
The experience at this iconic south Devon vineyard goes far beyond the archetypal tour and tasting. In addition to its picturesque 32-acre vineyards overlooking the River Dart, the Sandridge Barton estate also houses Trencherman’s-rated restaurant Circa along with chic lodgings which provide the opportunity to extend a vineyard day trip into a unique retreat.
Plan your sojourn in the summer (when the vineyard is open seven days a week) and join a tour and tasting to learn more about the winery’s history, the team’s low-intervention methods of winemaking and to sample pours which appear on menus of established venues across the region. With over 40 years of experience nurturing grapes and crafting exquisite wines using a combination of new world and traditional techniques, Sandridge has remained at the forefront of the English wine scene – and the proof is in its award-winning still and sparkling drops.
Of course, it would be remiss to visit without exploring the other on-site delights. Feast on seasonal dishes (sourced from the surrounding rolling hills of the Dart Valley) at Circa and round off the experience with a stay in one of three self-catering holiday cottages.
Swanaford Estate, Dartmoor
It’s only too easy to while away an afternoon at this verdant ten-acre vineyard in the Teign Valley.
Ben and Caroline Goulden established Swanaford in 2013 with viticulture qualifications under their belts and an ambition to produce English wines of note – and they’ve succeeded. Wine enthusiasts can sample their award-winning still and sparkling wines (crafted using grapes grown on their south-east-facing slopes) and experience a peaceful walk amid the vines by booking in for one of the guided vineyard tours and tastings.
The events run throughout the summer on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Knightor, St Austell and Portscatho
Depending on the area of Cornwall you wish to visit this summer, there are two fabulous wine-led experiences to be enjoyed from Cornish wine producers Knightor. Visitors to its vineyard in Portscatho can expect to explore the vines and see their various stages of growth, while learning about Knightor’s winemaking processes and drinking in panoramic views over Roseland. Following a tour, guests have the opportunity to get a taste of the terroir via a guided wine tasting.
The other adventure to be had is at Knightor’s winery, nestled amid four acres of orchards above St Austell Bay on the south Cornish coast. Before a guided tasting takes place, attendees will learn about Knightor’s vineyards and the equipment utilised in production, and get a glimpse into the life of a winemaker as background bottling and labelling takes place.
Huxbear Vineyard & Winery, near Chudleigh
For a personalised vineyard tour and tasting in which you can learn first-hand experience of winemaking, make tracks to family-owned Huxbear in the Teign Valley.
Ben and Lucy Hulland planted the vineyard in 2007 and have produced still and sparkling wines of distinction since 2010. From grape to glass, the duo are a fount of knowledge when it comes to wine. They love to share the story of how they established their fully off-grid vineyard as well as the sustainable winemaking processes they follow.
The 90-minute in-depth tour is followed by a free tasting which gives attendees the opportunity to sample wines such as Huxbear’s Blanc de Noirs 2021 – a golden fizz that’s well balanced, delicate and dry, yielding notes of black cherry, violet, brioche and sweet almond. Exclusive discounts are also available for purchases made on the day of the tour and tasting.
Three Choirs Vineyard, Newent
As one of the oldest vineyards in England, Three Choirs is a special find for oenophiles and wine lovers who wish to be transported through a fruitful five-decade history of producing quality English wines.
Rather than formal tours, Three Choirs offers guests a relaxed self-guided trail through the vines on weekends, inclusive of a wine tasting and lunch. After a leisurely stroll in the vineyard, indulge the senses further via a flight of five still and sparkling Three Choirs wines of your choice, served alongside small plates and sharing boards.
Couples can immerse themselves in the vine-clad valleys and explore the range of delicious drops further by booking one of the romantic getaways.
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