6 Great British Rosé Wines to Try in Your Glass

The Great British wine revolution has been hitting the recent news headlines with increased popularity amongst wine lovers as more people discover that British wines actually taste good! Champagne houses such as Pommery and Taittinger have been in on the action too and are known to have purchased land in Hampshire and Kent, within Great Britain, as the British climate is also favourable for sparkling wines.

Similar grapes to those used in luxury champagne (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) are grown on UK soils and are now also used to make English sparkling wine via the traditional method, but at a fraction of the cost for those of us enjoying those bubbles at home. However, most of the attention has remained focused on those tasty sparkling and still British white wines, such as Bacchus, so we’re here to shine the spotlight on delightful British rosé wines… perfect for Great British Rosé Week, at any time during rosé wine season or indeed at any other time of the year - there’s no reason needed!

Rosé wines are typically made using the same winemaking processes as red wines but the main difference is that the red grape skins are only in contact for a few hours rather than the weeks taken for red wines, resulting in that light pink colour that we all know and love!  There are many British vineyards to discover for a summer’s day trip with a tour and wine tasting – some vineyards might also offer accommodation if you wish to make a night out of it. In the meantime, let’s dive in to some British Rosé to tease your taste buds!

Halfpenny Green English Rosé 2022

With 30 years of farming divided amongst a family involved with the Halfpenny Estate and with south western facing slopes within the Severn Valley in South Staffordshire, this Rosé has that fashionable Provençal hue but packs in the fruitiness. There is a pronounced intensity of strawberries and stone fruits with a zesty contrast providing that refreshing taste that would be ideal for a trip to a summer’s meadow. As it is an off dry rosé wine blend with a hint of minerality, this Rosé will pair nicely with some cheese, crackers and light Mediterranean style salads.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £12.25

Tuffon Hall Beatrice Pinot Noir Rosé 2022

Beatrice is the name of the winemakers’ second daughter and therefore this is a very personal touch felt with this Tuffon Hall rosé, from North Essex, that bears her name. With four and a half generations working on this estate’s land, there is a genuine sense of the labour of love that pervades this wine. The land itself can be detected in the wine with an earthy smell balancing out the strawberries, raspberries and cherry in this medium bodied Pinot Noir rosé. This dry, tart but elegant award winning rosé will be one to share with friends, if you feel so inclined!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £16.99

Hattingley Valley Still Rosé 2022 

This Hampshire based Pinot Noir Rosé has been winning a plethora of awards such as the Best Still Rosé with good reason! It is served with a screwcap, with a bright pink hue and whilst it is light to drink that does not mean that its moreish strawberries and cranberries fruit flavour are not appreciated in providing that enhancement to its light intensity with a subtle, dry finish and tangy bite. This Rosé will complement seasoned fish dishes well.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £20

Simpsons Estate Railway Hill Rosé 2022

From the North Downs of Kent, the Simpsons Estate was established in 2014 and its chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that is located between Southern England and Champagne, in France, and even stretches as far as to Burgundy! It is therefore not surprising that this Rosé from their Railway Hill vineyard was a silver winner of the International Wine Challenge in 2020. This Pinot Noir Rosé is a slightly deeper pink than a Provençal style rosé but the bouquet of summer fruits is enticing on the nose. With a pronounced intensity of strawberries and cream with citrus to provide that refreshing, crisp texture this is a juicy Rosé that could be enjoyed alongside a packet of salted crisps!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £20

Denbies Rose Hill Rosé

Denbies has become the UK’s first vineyard and winery to achieve Net Zero status in wine production as part of its sustainability efforts. You can therefore visit this Surrey vineyard knowing that it is carbon positive and intentional about reducing its carbon footprint. Plus, this fruity Rosé is a balanced blend of Dornfelder and Pinot Noir grapes from the vineyard which highlights the natural sweetness. It is an easy drinking, off-dry rosé to drink for apéro hour with its full flavour, medium bodied, smooth texture and that added citrus hint. For a full weekend visit, you could combine your Denbies wine tasting experience with some cycling in nearby Box Hill!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £11.99

Oastbrook Rosé 2022

Being described as similar to a cult winery in the Vines in a Cold Climate book, which discusses the English wine revolution, the Oastbrook Estate’s reputation precedes it! It is a Sussex based vineyard, which is an area that recently received Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, and is close to the river Rother and within easy reach of British beaches on which to enjoy this late harvest succulent Rosé! The estate does have onsite accommodation too such as lodges and glamping, if you book quickly, meaning that you could be served this rich balanced rosé directly to your own private space. Slightly pink orange in colour with strawberry, melon, citrus and stone fruits aromas, this is an extremely palatable off-dry Rosé wine which can be drunk by itself and conjures up images of strawberries and cream and Wimbledon! Plus, having the bottle number on its label, from this small production, does make purchasing this Rosé seem like an extra special treat and you’re worth it!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £18.50

You can’t say that we’re not generous as we have an extra treat, which does make this the lucky 7 recommendations! But, if you haven’t tried a Mirabeau wine before then it is definitely worth adding to your shopping lists! Technically, it’s not a British wine as it is grown in Provence but the owners of the estate are English winemakers who moved their family to France to set up their winery and fulfil their dream of making good quality rosé. So, without further ado, let’s explore a glass of Mirabeau…

Mirabeau X Côtes de Provence Rosé 2022

This quintessential Provençal salmon pink rosé blend, from the area that is north of Aix-en-Provence, is designed to impress with its delicate profile. It is a well-rounded vegan friendly Rosé, with a light intensity which becomes more profound over time to reveal crisp, fruit forward aromas combining strawberries, grapefruit, stone fruits and a degree of minerality with a long finish. It is a very quaffable, sophisticated and stunning wine which will be perfect for those lunchtime occasions at work or play or for those moments when you catch yourself daydreaming and imagining that you are by the French riviera!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £13

Rosé can truly be drunk at any time of year and gone are the days when you might only see a Pinot Grigio Blush or White Zinfandel on pub and restaurant menus, thankfully! What is your go to glass of rosé? We would love to find out your preferences and whether you now feel inspired to traverse the British countryside on a Rosé journey!

By Latoya Austin

10 English Wines You Need To Try

With English Wine Week now in full swing, we wanted to shine a light on one of England’s greatest exports: English wine! Gone are the days when English wine was considered to be a joke. Our wines, both still and sparkling, are now being embraced as some of the very best out there. Here are some great bottles from producers that really should be on your radar.

KENT

Springfield Chardonnay, Balfour Winery, 2020 (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

Balfour’s very first barrel-aged Chardonnay, this is a Chardonnay modelled on a white Burgundy, yet keeping that characteristic Kentish freshness. Creamy and with a hint of spice from the new oak barrels, there’s a ton of ripe, orchard fruit notes here, a smoky grapefruit note, a slick of moreish saline and a granny smith apple skin tang.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £25
Find here: Balfourwinery.com

SURREY

Broadwoods Folly, Rosé Brut, NV (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

This peppy pink made by the famous Denbies Estate and named after the mock gothic tower overlooking the vineyards, shows that English sparkling wine doesn't have to cost the earth to be good. Crisp and refreshing, this is a sherbety pink with notes of crunchy raspberry and rosehip, a touch of brioche and a quintessentially English lafiness on the finish. Its bright acidity and touch of flintiness would make this a winner with smoked salmon. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £15.99
Find here: Lidl

HAMPSHIRE

Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

Established in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon is England’s oldest vineyard and can be found nestled in the home of Cricket at Hambledon in Hampshire. Their Classic Cuvée is again, a blend of all three traditional grapes, (56% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier). Grapes are handpicked on the estate and this cuvée uses the 2017 harvest as a base with 20% reserve wines added, giving it the characteristic toasty richness that Hambledon has become famous for. Hambledon also does fantastic tours, tastings and events. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £34.99 (or £23.99 as part of a mixed 6 case)
Find here: Majestic

SUSSEX

Ambriel, English Reserve, Single Vineyard, Demi-Sec, NV (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

People can be sniffy about wines they perceive as sweet and the term ‘demi-sec’, which means ‘semi-sweet’, has been left somewhat in the eighties and early nineties. What’s wonderful about this demi-sec, which is a single estate wine made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes and made in the traditional method, is that when you taste it, you just perceive that extra dash of sweetness simply as fruit and flavour. This extra fruitiness beautifully counters the salt in cheese and is an absolute cracker with wedding cake! 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Price: £33.95
Find here: Corney and Barrow

others to try

OXFORDSHIRE

Doe Eyed Queen, Single Estate Vintage, English Sparkling, 2017

Where fine wine meets fashion, Doe Eyed Queen came from its founder Amy spending years exploring restaurants across London and realising the significant impact that the aesthetic appearance of a restaurant and its food had on taste. Amy wanted to create a wine that was as sophisticated and unique on the outside as the inside bottle. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the 2017 vintage, it’s vegan, organic and sustainably made. Peachy and rich in flavour with notes of red fruit and brioche, it certainly tastes as good as it looks. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £40
Find here: doeeyedqueen.com

HAMPSHIRE

Hattingley Valley, Classic Reserve

Hattingley Valley winery is found in rural Hampshire where the first vines were planted in 2008 and the first wines released in 2013. Made by multiple award-winning female winemaker Emma Rice with 53% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir and 16% Pinot Meunier grapes, the Classic Reserve is Hattingley’s most widely available and most loved wine. A non-vintage sparkler based on the somewhat challenging 2015 vintage, this is the wine that gives you a true flavour of the Hattingley house style: Golden with fine bubbles, elegant notes of brioche, nougat and a touch of oak with a characteristic hedgerow note on the finish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £30
Find here: Waitrose

Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018

Rathfinny has an enviable position on the sunny, south-facing slopes of England’s South Downs in Alfriston, Sussex. It has quickly made a name for itself as one of England’s finest wine producers. Blanc de Noirs is a sparkling wine made only from black /red grapes which in this case are Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and these wine grapes came from just one single harvest in 2018, which has been dubbed the vintage of the decade. Rathfinny has a style that is rich but precise with a fantastic, lean, mineral character. Seriously elegant and will keep for a while. Rathfinny is another great place for a vineyard picnic too!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £38.95 (or £36.95 when in a case of six) 
Find here: Lea & Sandeman

Wild Rose, Black Chalk, 2018

If a wine style can be described as ‘precise’, then Black Chalk are the masters of it. Made in tiny batches from grapes grown on the chalky soils of Hampshire and using the traditional method, this rosé is at once rich, crisp and pure. Think raspberries and strawberries with elegant effervescence and a brilliant balance of fruit and acidity. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £40
Find here: blackchalkwine.co.uk

KENT

Balfour Brut Rosé 2018

A renowned winery located on the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, the Balfour sparkling brut rosé was the first ever English wine to win a gold medal and the Trophy at the International Wine Challenge. This 2018 vintage wine is only ever made in tiny quantities from a single vineyard and it has a special story. The estate has belonged to the Balfour-Lynn family for three generations, but it was Richard and Leslie’s idea to plant vines at Hush Heath in 2002, with a view to making a pink sparkling wine like their favourite ever Champagne: Billecart Salmon Rosé. Their thinking was “If we can’t sell it, we’ll drink it”. But they did sell it and the rest is history. It’s a great place for lunch and a tasting with a lovely walk around the vines and the apple trees too. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £39.99 (£33.99 at time of publishing)
Find here: Waitrose

Balfour Blanc de Noirs 2018

Another stunning sparkling wine from the Hush Heath Estate, this Blanc de Noirs made from the superb 2018 vintage is a prime example of English sparkling wine at its best. It has notes of orange, citrus and pear and gentle notes of red fruits on the finish. Pair this with meaty fish for a match made in heaven!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £40
Find here: www.balfourwinery.com

Your Wine Travel Guide to Kent

Kent is a county in southeast England known colloquially as the Garden of England thanks to its historical importance for growing cereal crops, hops and fruit. With the increase in vineyard plantings however, things are changing quickly and Kent has already become one of the leading areas for top-quality wines in the UK. Below, we discuss why this is, give you the big names to look out for and suggest what else you can do while you’re there...

Despite evidence dating back to Roman times showing that winemaking practices have been common in England for over 2000 years, the buzz surrounding the exciting rise of English wine is actually pretty recent. The big success story here is sparkling wine made in the traditional method (now officially known over here as the ‘classic method’), with ‘new’ grape varieties i.e. Chardonnay. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier; the grape varieties famous for making the great sparkling wines of Champagne. Before this practice took off, Kent and the rest of England were working more with still wines made with the aromatic, Germanic varieties that did better in the cold, such as Madeleine Angevine, Rondo and Bacchus. 

Why is Kent wine doing so well?

So why the new grapes and the success with wine in Kent particularly? Fruit growing temperatures and conditions in Kent have always been excellent and the soils, particularly those under the North Downs in the north of the county, share the same chalk ridges as the famous region of Champagne in France. This discovery led to trialing out the Champagne grapes mentioned above and to great success. Climate change has also meant that in the right conditions, grapes are able to ripen just that little bit more than they used to, which makes all the difference for wine production. Add to this the modern techniques by winemakers who have travelled the world and improved disease control and you have a recipe for success - so much so that we are even seeing famous Champagne houses snapping up land, such as Domaine Evremond, owned by the Taittinger family, who have planted vines down in Faversham. 

There are now over fifty wineries in Kent alone and the area is quickly becoming a real destination for fine wine production and gastro tourism, the latter helped by the picture perfect villages, cottages, landscapes and oasthouses of the county. If you’ve seen the film ‘The Holiday’, you’ll know exactly what we mean. A group of these wineries have also got together to support each other and boost the reputation of Kent wine under the title ‘Wine Garden of England’. These are Biddenden, Gusbourne, Balfour at Hush Heath Estate, Chapel Down, Domaine Evremond, Simpsons and Squerryes. 

Beer and Spirits

Drinks lovers will also note that Kent also has a strong association with growing hops for beer and we can still see some of these oast houses dotted around the county, though they are more often used as posh housing nowadays. Distilleries are also popping up, with some offering some fantastic experience for visitors, such as Copper Rivet over in Chatham that offers distillery tours and tastings and also has a new cocktail bar and fine dining restaurant on site. 

Notable wineries of Kent

Of the fifty or so wineries dotted around the county, there are several that stand out. While these names will change over time with new ones being added regularly, these are the need-to-know producers currently making a splash and well worth a visit:

• Gusbourne

• Balfour at Hush Heath

• Simpsons

• Biddenden

• Woodchurch

• Herbert Hall

• Squerryes

• Chapel Down

• Mereworth

• Look out for Domaine Evremond too; the Taittinger family project, recently planted.

Gusbourne

Location: Appledore, Kent

Gusbourne and its head winemaker Charlie Holland have been turning heads all over the vinous world as their vintage sparkling wines gather inordinate amounts of awards. Even their first releases in 2006 (Gusbourne Brut Reserve and Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs), which were released in 2010, commanded attention immediately. Since then, the English wine world has watched in awe as the team crafts the vintages every year, adding new cuvées and styles to their repertoire. The winery now produces several white and rosé sparkling wines as well as an impressive range of still wines, each with their own personality. This is a real, fine wine producer of Kent.

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours
Guided and self guided tours with wine tastings are available from £25 pp.

Food

While there is no restaurant or café at Gusbourne per se, picnics are available to buy and consume overlooking the stunning Boot Hill vineyard at the top of the estate. You can however, also pre book an extended tour and tasting which includes a 3 course lunch for £95pp or for something less formal, try the discovery tour, which involves a tasting and a casual lunch for £75 pp. Locals say to try the Ferry Inn in Oxney or The Woolpack Inn in Warehorne for great pub grub if the tasting lunches don’t work for you. Also, make sure you pay a visit to Miss Mollett's High Class Tea Rooms in Appledore if you’re staying there. 

Accommodation

None on site but there are several very pretty Air BnBs down the road in Appledore, about 30 mins walk away through the vines.

Kiddie friendly: No. 
Dog friendly: Yes outside, or possibly inside if clean and very well behaved. 

Address: Kenardington Rd, Appledore, Ashford TN26 2BE
Tel: +44 (0)1233 758666
Website

Balfour at Hush Heath Estate 

Location: Near Stapleford, Kent

The 16th century Hush Heath manor is the home to Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn who acquired the 400 acre estate that surrounds it in 2001 after it came up unexpectedly in an auction. The couple had the foresight to plant grape vines alongside some of the apple trees and now, twenty years later, they are producing award-winning sparkling and still wines alongside their beers and high class ciders that are made just like their fizz. With their new terrace called ‘The View’ and its sweeping views across the estate, it’s a lovely spot for a tasting with a sharing platter. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

At Hush Heath, you can do simple guided and self-guided walks around the estate culminating in a tasting or you can upgrade the offering to include sharing platters at The View. They offer several types of other experiences, including self-tutored tastings, masterclasses, wine and dine experiences and corporate and private events where they pick you up from the station!

Food

There’s no restaurant or café at Hush Heath as such, but sharing platters of cold cuts, cheeses and other local products are available on the day.  

Accommodation

The Balfour family own several gastro pubs with rooms in the area (and elsewhere), the closest of which is the Goudhurst Inn five minutes drive away. They also own the Tickled Trout in Farleigh, the Woolpack on Tenterden high street, the Ship Inn in Rye and The Windmill in Hollingbourne, all a bit further away. 

Kiddie Friendly: Yes on the terrace and in The View. Under 10’s are not permitted on the winery tour.

Address: Hush Heath Estate, Five Oak Ln, Staplehurst, Tonbridge TN12 0HT
Tel: +44 (0)1622 832794
Website

Simpsons English Wine Estate

Location: Canterbury

Run by veteran winemaking couple Charles and Ruth Simpson, this estate is tucked away on the chalky slopes of the North Downs, sheltered from the weather by stunning English woodland. A relative newcomer on the English winemaking scene, Simpson’s first wine releases of traditional method sparkling wines in their sleek, dark packaging impressed from the off and they’ve gone on to produce some serious still wines too from the same Champagne grapes, including one that’s, unusually, made from 100% Pinot Meunier. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

Simpsons offer weekday and weekend tours and tastings as well as sought-after, Friday Sunset Sessions with food platter.

Food

No restaurant or café, but platters are available on the Friday sunset sessions. 

Address: The Barns, Church Lane, Barham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6PB
Tel: +44 (0) 1227 832200
Website

Biddenden Vineyards

Location: Biddenden

Biddenden is Kent’s original vineyard, dating back to 1969 when the first vines were planted on the Barnes family’s orchard farm. Unlike many of the other new wineries in Kent, Biddenden doesn’t just focus on the three Champagne grapes for its wine but celebrates eleven different grape varieties, including what we could now call the ‘heritage’ English grapes such as Bacchus, Ortega and Huxelrebe. A true location for quintessentially Kentish produce, Biddenden also produces cider, juices and sells a range of local produce. If you want to know Kentish wine, you should start here. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

Self guided tours and wine tastings are available 7 days a week and group bookings for up to six people are available Weds-Sat. 

Shop

As well as wine, cider, beer and gin, Biddenden has a shop that stocks a wide range of local and regional products and snacks, such as cheese, meats and condiments from independent and artisan producers.

Address: Biddenden Vineyards, Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden, Kent. TN27 8DF.
Tel: +44 (0)1580 291726
Website

Woodchurch

Location: Woodchurch

Woodchurch is a relatively new, family-owned winery located on the edge of the picturesque village of Woodchurch in Kent, overlooking the ancient Romney marsh down to the English channel. Established in 2009, their vision is to create some of the world’s finest sparkling wines with a hand-made approach in their state-of-the-art winery and minimal intervention.

On Site Experiences

The cellar door shop and new terrace bar are now open again and they serve wines by the glass with some free tastings. There’s no need to book ahead for this. 

Tastings & Tours

Guided tours with four wines are available for £20 per person, lasting about an hour and a half.

Food

Cheese and Charcuterie boards are available too, 11am - 4pm but it’s wise to pre-order. 

Address: Susan's Hill, Woodchurch, Ashford TN26 3RE
Tel: 01233 860276
Website

Herbert Hall

Location: Marden Tonbridge

Herbert Hall is the name of a colourful character who was also a tenant farmer who arrived in the village of Marden at the end of the 19th century and worked on the ten-acre site to the west of the village. On the estate, he grew hops, apples, pears and plums and his farm has remained in the Hall family for three generations. It was in 2007 however that his great grandson, the now winemaker Nicholas Hall, chose Herbert’s original site to plant a vineyard with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Today, with fellow winemaker Kirsty Smith, he now produces vintage, English Sparkling Wines with a focus on organic viticulture and meticulous fruit selection.

On Site Experiences

Tastings, Tours & Food

The Herbert Hall bar is open on Saturdays 12pm-8pm and Sundays 12-6pm during the summer, but is currently weather dependent. The bar also serves beers, cider and soft drinks, as well as still wines, their own sparkling wines, and charcuterie and cheeses.

Address: Poultry Farm, Plain Rd, Marden, Tonbridge TN12 9LS
Website

Squerryes

Location: Westerham, Kent

The Warde family motto, which can be seen above the door at Squerryes Court, reads ’Licet Esse Beatis’, which means: ‘it’s permitted to be joyful’ and this is a place that embodies that perfectly. Located just outside Westerham at the foot of the North Downs, the family have lived here for eight generations over 300 years, with Sir Patience Warde one of the first generation, trading wool from the Estate with the French for red wine. Fast forward centuries later and the family turned down offers from a Champagne house to buy some of their land. It was the right decision as now, Squerryes is making a solid name for its vintage, sparkling wines in their own right.

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

Squerryes offer tours that culminate in tastings that include their signature Brut release, the Rosé and Blanc de Blancs. Tours run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays every weekend through to October.

Food

Squerryes is a great choice for when you want to make a day of it, with a tour, then a tasting and a proper lunch or dinner in The Terrace restaurant or The Bottle Store restaurant. There is Al Fresco dining at The Terrace between April and September and you can look forward to small, seasonal dishes and sharing plates with select cuts of prime meat and seafood, created by their estate chef, Alexander Baillieu. 

Private Hire & Weddings

You have found your perfect location for a party or a wedding. Squerryes Court has featured in many a period drama and could be the perfect backdrop to your big day. The winery space is also available to hire. 

Address: Squerryes, Beggars Lane, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1QP
Tel: 01959 562345
Website

Chapel Down

Location: Tenterden, Kent

Chapel Down might well be the name in English wine that you are most familiar with as they were one of the first to go big and get ‘out there’ in mainstream shops and restaurants. Located just outside Tenterden and pretty close to Gusbourne and Woodchurch, this is a great location to start an English wine tour, especially as there are some great pubs with rooms nearby. Chapel Down themselves also offer a range of experiences, from guided tours, wine tastings and full-on masterclasses, to lunch at their restaurant ‘The Swan’. There are also accommodation packages you could look at with their partner hotels.

On Site Experiences

Tastings & Tours

You can do guided and self guided tours around their vineyards and herb garden. There are various options from simple tours and tastings to full, deluxe tour packages. Cheese and wine tastings are also available.

Food

Chapel Down boasts a two AA Rosette and Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants specialising in modern British cuisine and locally sourced seasonable produce.

Lease the vines!

Chapel Down also has a vine lease programme where you can buy or gift someone their very own Bacchus vines and create personalised wines. There are also events for the leaseholders to attend and you are able to visit your vines at any time to see how they are coming on. 

Address: Chapel Down Winery, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent TN30 7NG
Tel: 01580 763033
Website

Mereworth Wines

Location: Mereworth, Kent.

Mereworth is a pretty ancient Kentish site that even gets a mention in the Domesday book! The area, like much of Kent has a long history of growing fruit and hops and now, Mereworth has its own winery, swapping hops for grapes. It’s a new winery on the scene but is already making a splash with its first vintage of 2018 sparkling wines winning prestigious awards already. It’s rapidly becoming a serious destination for wine lovers thanks to its calendar of events such as their Indian wine supper and their Champagne Vs England sparkling wine tasting. 

On Site Experiences

Tastings, Tours & Food

Mereworth Wines runs tours and tastings, with an option of masterclasses and wine-and-cheese pairings too. Check their website for their events too.

Address: Brewers Hall, Tonbridge Rd, Mereworth, Maidstone, ME18 5JD. 
Tel: 01622 817795
Website

Places to stay in Kent for your wine tour

The Woolpack Inn, Warehorne.

Tickled Trout in West Fairleigh

Woolpack, Tenterden high street.

The Ship Inn, Rye.

The Windmill, Hollingbourne.

The Oxney Barns, Oxney.

Shepherd’s Huts, Oxney.

Want to know more about English wine? Here are some need-to-know producers to seek out. Or you could try this article for the best UK vineyard hotels. Or this one for the best places to drink English wine in the UK!

The Best UK Vineyard Stays

What’s better than a visit to a UK winery? An overnight stay at one. Book into the best, and after the daytrippers head home you’ll be left to bed down with bottles of fine English fizz – and to wake to a sunrise over sleepy rows of vines. If it wasn’t for that hallmark British summer weather (ahem), you’d swear you were in the south of France…

Rathfinny Wine Estate, East Sussex

Encircled by gently sloping vineyards and open Sussex skies, Rathfinny’s historic Flint Barns are Instagram-perfect inside and out. Ten rooms come with a shared snug – accented with exposed brick walls, cushy leather sofas and a wood burner – though better for summertime is the courtyard, a dreamy place to savour the Classic Cuvée sparkling, a typical Champagne blend aged for 36 months in bottle. Given you’re just three miles from the coast, break up sipping sessions with strolls to nearby chalk cliffs and beaches. Return for gastropub-style cooking in the onsite restaurant, plus hearty breakfasts of shakshuka or oozy Burford Brown eggs.

Book here

Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey

One of England’s oldest and best-known wineries, Denbies gives good vineyard: 265 acres of it, to be specific. And tucked among the manicured rows of Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rondo you’ll find a properly lovely hotel. Seventeen rooms, dressed in contemporary stylings with citrussy pops of colour, stripey hues and (as you’d expect) enticing views over the estate, are split between an 1850s restored farmhouse and a new extension, The Brokes. Pick the wing that suits you best, drop your bags, then head off on a tour and tasting – there are several to chose from – or for a lazy meal at one of the multiple on-site restaurants. 

Book here

Three Choirs, Gloucestershire

Get that camera ready. Floor-to-ceiling – and wall-to-wall – windows on the contemporary lodges at Three Choirs mean that scenic vistas to vineyard and lake pervade every minute of your stay. Just a short stroll from the winery’s popular tasting area – but pleasantly private – the lodges also come with wraparound verandas, so you can soak up the summer sunshine over a glass of Three Choirs elderflower and nettle-scented Bacchus, or strawberry-bright Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling. You’ll get a discount on the informative afternoon vineyard tour, too, a natural follow up to a tapas lunch of patatas bravas, blackened padrón peppers and smoked mackerel pâté.

Book here 

The Fallow Treehouse, Hampshire

How to make a vineyard stay even more spectacular? Combine it with an epic, luxury treehouse. This glam pad in the Test Valley, on the edge of award-winning Black Chalk Wine’s vineyard, is built around a mature tree and comes with an outdoor bathtub, herringbone wood floors, button-back sofas and a toilet straight out of a glossy interiors mag. (And, of course, a bottle of Black Chalk Classic 2015 sparkling, a crisp blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.) Visit during harvest and you can watch the grapes being plucked over your morning cuppa; come in November, and you can partake in truffle hunting tours among the neighbouring trees.

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Oxney Organic, East Sussex

The very picture of a cutesy English cottage, Oxney’s Vineyard House is perfect for a small crowd – it will sleep you plus seven of your nearest and dearest, across three bedrooms within grape’s toss of the vines. Tumble out from the beamed-ceiling interior on a Saturday morning to join a tour around the vineyards, then return for a BBQ feast in the sprawling garden. Travelling as a twosome? Book the quaint shepherd’s hut instead, set in a small paddock near Pinot Noir grapes. Throw open the French doors, then enjoy your complimentary bottle of wine in a cute picnic area, complete with fire pit. When darkness falls, there’s a wood burner to keep you cosy.

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Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, Wales

It’s not just the rows of photogenic vines – taken in through floor-to-ceiling windows from homely but contemporary rooms – that draw visitors to this hotel. There’s the slick restaurant, serving up fluffy scones at afternoon tea and heirloom beetroot tarts at dinner. And, of course, the top-notch cookery school from chef Angela Gray, where you’ll learn to whip up barbecue fish tacos or grilled mascarpone peaches with bourbon caramel. Join a tour around the vines, sip your way through the Cariad wine range, then retire to a suite, dressed in white walls, countryside prints and cushy throw pillows.

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Don’t fancy a stay but still want to enjoy yourself? Then how about checking out some of the Best Cocktail Terraces in London? Or if it’s a city stay you are looking for, click here for more hotel inspiration!

The Best Canned Wines for Summer Picnics

Once a grin-and-bear-it drink, resorted to only in times of desperation (like on the 17:42 from Waterloo), canned wine is undergoing a revolution. Fresh and fun new brands – with carefully sourced, quality wines – are cropping up en masse. No wonder: from taste to variety, portion control to the big E (the environmental impact) there are plenty of reasons to celebrate wine in a tin. So, give the below a go – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

LUBANZI

When The Wine Society choose wine, they do it really blimming well, so it should be no surprise that their canned wine knocks the socks off so many others. Fruity and ‘clean’ without the sulphurous stink that cans can sometimes have, this pair of wines from South Africa provide super easy drinking that’s not confected, weedy or sickly. Named after a wandering dog that lead travellers a great distance, their soft, honeydew melon and white chocolate-scented Chenin Blanc and their spicy, juicy Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre red blend are both vegan, carbon neutral and Fairtrade certified too. The cans are really smart and when you look at their price, it’s just a no brainer. The Wine Society are not for profit, which is why these - and all their wines - are such amazing value.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 12.5% -13.5%
Find the white here and the red here for £3.95 each

Kiss of Wine

There’s a lot to love about this fresh, fun range, and one thing is its diversity. There are a whopping six single varietals to choose from, including ‘smooth’ Loire Valley Chardonnay, ‘zesty’ German Riesling, ‘chill’ Provencal Grenache Rosé and ‘crisp’ Loire Sauvignon Blanc. The stand-outs? That’ll be the Nebbiolo (nicknamed ‘feisty’) and soft, rounded Dolcetto (‘wild’) – two grapes we never thought we’d see in a canned wine. Each variety is sourced from a different small producer; a pamphlet delivered with your order gives the low-down, along with tasting notes and suggested food pairings. Plump for the 24-can Mixed Event Pack (£87) at your next barbecue and you’ll have literally something for everyone.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 11.5%-12.5%
Find here: £24.99 for 6

Canned Wine Co

Think canned wine can’t be great quality? This range of single varietal, vintage-declared wines will change your mind. The lively 2019 Austrian Grüner Veltliner is classic peach, apple and white pepper; the 2019 Grenache Rosé brings wild strawberries and grapefruit. The favourite however, hands down, is the 2016 Old Vine Garnacha: mature, smooth and chocolate-dipped-cherries on the nose and palate. This is a serious wine, worth its premium price tag (three 25cl tins cost £18). Snap it up quick, though; it’s just a limited edition, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 12.5%-14.5%
Find here: £18 for 3

Mirabeau

Provence’s pink wine poster child comes in a tinned format – and it’s just as sippable. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, grown on sun-baked southern French clay and limestone soils, this really is summertime in a glass: opulent white peach and strawberry on the nose, and a fruity, crisp palate. When the sun comes out, there’s no better way to enjoy this than at a picnic with friends, or down by the beach with a freshly made crab sandwich.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: Currently £2.79 per can normally £3.49

Babe

One of the best things about canned wine is that it helps you control intake – on those ‘I’m being good’ days you can stick to just one glass, without feeling tempted to have more. And fresh and fun bubbly brand Babe makes it even more guilt-free with its low-alcohol 100 Rosé – a 6.9%, 100-calorie pink fizz that is perfectly refreshing. Not someone who gets the guilt? Stick to the rest of their range: a standard bubbly Rosé (12% ABV), as well as fizzy Pinot Grigio and a barbecue-perfect sparkling Cabernet and Syrah blend.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 6.9%-12.5%
Find here: UK £27 for 12 (mixed pack) // US £37.99 for 12 (mixed pack)

Daylesford

Canned sparkling and frizzante wines are a revelation. Not only do they chill quicker than a whole bottle, but their 25cl size means that you avoid the waste that comes when an unfinished bottle goes flat (not that we know what an unfinished bottle of fizz looks like…but you know, theoretically). Two great examples come from the lovely Daylesford organic farmshop: a delightfully juicy organic Rosé Frizzante and a floral-scented ‘Sparkling Italian’ (made in Prosecco, but they can’t call it that ‘cause it’s in tins). Daylesford’s sustainable, still Provencal rosé, Léoube, made for sun-soaked picnic drinking, is available to buy in can format too as Le Petit Léoube.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 10.5%-13%
Find here: £50 for 12

Sipful Organic Bubbly

Sometimes, you *need* a glass of fizz – but opening a bottle feels like overkill. Sipful is here to help; its signature is a Spanish sparkling wine, just 25cl (a third of a bottle), so you can (figuratively) pop the cork any time or place it takes your fancy. Crisp, uncomplicated and gently carbonated, these are convenient to keep on hand for a quick birthday toast, a date on the beach or really for any moment when only fizz will do (does every single day after work count?). It’s perfect splashed into a Mimosa or Bellini too and Sipful agrees – it also sells its own tinned versions of these (4.5% ABV), made with real orange, peach and blood orange juices.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.5%-12%
Find here: £30.95 for 12

Small But Perfectly Formed

One more benefit of drinking canned wine: the lightweight tin can have a gentler environmental footprint than glass bottles. And it was with this in mind that wine merchant Bibendum launched its new range of three tipples: a 2018 Californian Zinfandel Rosé, a non-vintage Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, and a 2018 Argentinian Malbec (surprisingly quaffable from a can, this one is medium-bodied, with black cherry compote, ripe plum and red currant notes). Our favourite? Probably the Sauvignon – at £3 a can, it’s an affordable, easy-going option for impromptu park catch ups with mates.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 10.5%-13.5%
Find here: £3 per can

The Uncommon

Uncommon is right: this is one of the only canned English wines out there! And it sticks to what this green and pleasant land does so well: fizz. Kentish Bacchus and Chardonnay grapes give this quirky brand’s Bubbly White Wine delicious elderflower and green apple notes – just the thing for sipping while watching Wimbledon or strolling through Kew Gardens. The Pinot Noir rosé is another winner – hello, strawberries – but if you’re part of the low-alcohol brigade, there’s something you’ll like even better. White and rosé spritzers, at just 5.5% ABV, combine the signature wines with botanicals such as rose, hawthorn, cucumber and lemon verbena.

ABV: 5.5%-11.5%
Find here: £20 for 16

For more canned drink goodness make sure to check out our latest article on Delicious No and Low Canned Drinks but if it’s wine you are more interested in then we have a huge selection of articles waiting for your here!