British wines are winning awards – even up against the French. Plus our wineries are still small enough that we get to drink most of the lovely stuff right in the UK. But don’t limit yourself to buying the odd bottle of homegrown. If you’ve got any interest in the grape stuff or you simply want a fun day out, you just have to visit these star-filled wine heavens:
1. Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey
Denbies Wine Estate has over 600 acres of beautiful land, and holds both indoor and outdoor tours starting at just £6. Pick from their Vine & Dine Grape-Picking Experience, Cheese and Wine Tasting Events and an Outdoor Wine-tasting and Train Ride. The Surrey winery produces an impressive range of whites and reds, including the fantastic sparkling Cubitt Reserve and the delicious Redlands, an excellent Pinot Noir. Enjoy a day exploring the vineyards, then relax in the evening with a sumptuous meal at the Gallery Restaurant. It’s open in the evening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Surrey is a beautiful area to explore and Travelodge has a convenient hotel, extremely nearby, in Dorking.
2. Camel Valley Vineyard, Cornwall
The Camel Valley Vineyard has been producing award-winning wines for 25 years in the idyllic Cornish countryside. The Grand Tour and Tasting, held every Wednesday, is not to be missed. A winemaker will guide you through the vineyard before leading you through a fun wine-tasting that includes at least four of the best wines. The award-winning Cornwall Brut is a must-try, as is the gold medal-winning 2012 ‘Cornwall’ Pinot Noir Rose Brut. The Bodmin Roche Travelodge is just a stroll away, and you can get a super-tasty bite at the Victoria Inn nearby.
3. Three Choirs Vineyards, Gloucestershire
The Three Choirs Vineyards in the Cotswolds make real ale and cider as well as award-winning wines. Wine tours and tastings are held daily at 2.30pm and cost £12.50 a person. Buy a bottle or two of the famed Bacchus 2011 to take home. And take advantage of the Nature Trail, specially designed to show off the diversity of local wildlife and the landscape. The vineyards also have an on-site restaurant, perfect if you’ve worked up an appetite after a good walk. It’s hard to pass up the herb-crusted rack of Hertfordshire lamb or the iced peanut butter parfait. You can roll home to the Travelodge in Gloucester. It’s just a 10-minute drive away, right in the middle of a glorious city, just waiting for you to explore.
