To celebrate English Wine Week, here are five group-friendly vineyards which are sure to entertain groups who like a tipple all year-round.
1. Wiston Estate, Sussex
At Wiston Estate, groups are treated to a talk and video about the history of the vineyard, which began when Pip Goring arrived from South Africa in 1972 and dreamed of planting a vineyard to evoke memories of her childhood. There’s a chance to see the site’s grape press, which is used during the harvest season, to freshly squeeze the produce which is all hand-picked to maintain its quality. Groups can enjoy a selection of wines, including its non-vintage Blanc de Blancs, in the vineyard’s quaint tasting room too.
2. Saffron Grange, Essex
This vineyard offers a number of memorable experiences to enjoy throughout the year from vineyard tours and tastings to special events and more. Groups can add a cheese board to their tasting which includes three matured cheeses from Rennet & Rind, Cambridge Cheesemongers, to pair perfectly with its sparkling wines on offer. The board includes crackers, fresh bread and a cheese companion and will be served for you to enjoy after your tasting.
3. Nutbourne Vineyard, Sussex
Groups can venture out into the fields at Nutbourne to sample its fizz next to the vines from which it was made. If you look closely enough, you can also see wool left behind on each plant by the sheep who naturally graze the land and keep it as ideal as possible for growth.
Groups can also explore wildflower meadows, lakes and find quiet spots to sit and take in the views. Be sure to pop inside the windmill for views across the whole estate which are especially spectacular in the sunshine.
4. Little Oak Vineyard, Gloucestershire
This Cotswolds gem sits on top of soil which is classified as SaSiLo (a sandy silt loam) which is said to be excellent for drainage. This is just one of the many facts that groups can learn on a visit, while sampling its delicious wines that were first harvested and bottled in the early noughties.
Each vineyard experience lasts approximately an hour and a half, where guests will try its Siegerrebe white wines and two sparkling wines, plus its Cotswold Gold Brandy (subject to availability).
5. Kinsbrook Vineyard, Sussex
Kinsbrook Vineyard is a charming site which puts comfort and relaxation at the forefront of its offer. Visitors can sit underneath canopies and enjoy drinks and delicious food while admiring the stunning surroundings.
Kinsbrook stands for sustainability and inclusiveness and the site delivers this and more, even having its own bee hives to produce honey sold on-site. Groups can also admire its wildflowers and enjoy a number of special events throughout the summer months.
