Eight Vineyards to Visit in the UK
Vineyards have a long and venerable history in the U.
K.
Many scholars believe that the Romans brought their own grapes and vine cuttings with them two thousand years ago, when they first settled in England.
For centuries afterward, people in the U.
K.
grew their own grapes and made their own wine.
It was only after 1152, when Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II and wine from Bordeaux began to be sold in England, that commercial winegrowing in the U.
K.
began to fade.
When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, where winemaking traditionally took place, it died out entirely.
Luckily, however, there U.
K.
winemaking had a comeback in the 20th century-and today the U.
K.
produces some excellent wines.
If you're a wine lover, here are a few vineyards you won't want to miss.
Carr Taylor Vineyards.
In 1985, these winemakers were the first to make English sparkling wine.
Located in Westfield just six miles north of historic Hastings, the vineyard is situated in a sheltered valley of rich soil over a bed of Wealden sandstone-an ideal environment for grape-growing.
The vineyard is open to tours and sells sparkling, traditional, and a variety of fruit wines.
Three Choirs Vineyards.
This well-known and much awarded single-estate vineyard is located in Gloucestershire, with 75 acres of vines surrounded by a beautiful natural setting.
They host vineyard experience days, where guests can spend the day helping with wine harvesting and production, along with a three-course lunch, wine tasting, and two complementary bottles of wine.
Biddenden Vineyards.
This is the oldest commercial vineyard in Kent, dating back to 1969.
Located near Leeds Castle, this vineyard produces excellent wines along with apple and pear ciders and juices.
They offer free admissions and tastings.
Tours are available by appointment, and include a guided walk of the vineyards and winemaking facilities as well as a complementary tasting.
Llanerch Vineyards.
Located in the scenic countryside of Glamorgan in Wales, this vineyard offers the full visitor experience-fine dining, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, tours of the grounds and facilities, wine tastings, and even cooking classes.
The vineyard is one of the oldest commercial vineyards in Wales.
Rosemary Vineyard.
Located in the Isle of Wight, Rosemary Vineyard has 30 acres of vines and takes full advantage of the sunny, mild climate of the island.
They make wines, liqueurs, ciders, and juices made from their own locally grown fruits, and they have won several awards for their products-including gold at the Great Taste Awards in 2007 for their elderberry liqueur.
They offer tours and wine tastings to visitors by appointment.
Wylye Valley Vineyard.
This Wiltshire vineyard is picturesque and historic, but its' not a big tourist destination-there's no café, gift shop, or gourmet restaurant to be found on the grounds.
But the wine is superb, and the grounds and facilities are open to tours and tastings by appointment.
This is a great destination for anyone wanting a behind-the-scenes peek at an authentic vineyard without being part of the tourist crowd.
Shawsgate Vineyard.
Shawsgate is an award-winning vineyard located in Suffolk.
The grape varieties grown here include several strains of white grapes and Rondo, a frost-resistant red.
The grounds include a shop and a playground, and are open to the public for tours and tastings.
In addition, Shawsgate allows you to "rent" a row of vines on their property.
The vineyard will produce bottles of wine from your vines, which you can buy tax-free for a fraction of what they would cost in stores.
Camel Valley Vineyards.
There aren't many vineyards in Cornwall, but this vineyard makes a visit there worthwhile.
The Camel Valley Vineyards is located near Bodmin in Cornwall, and their 6,000 vines produce white, red, and sparkling wines.
The wines produced here have won many awards, including the UKVA President's Trophy for top wine across vintages, styles, and classes.
The vineyards are open to the public during visiting hours, with personal and group tours and wine tastings available.
The climate and soil of the U.
K.
have produced many excellent home-grown vintages, and a visit to its vineyards is sure to be enjoyable to wine lovers of all nationalities.
Whether you like whites, reds, sparkling wines, or fruit liqueurs, there's sure to be a vineyard in your area that suits your tastes.
K.
Many scholars believe that the Romans brought their own grapes and vine cuttings with them two thousand years ago, when they first settled in England.
For centuries afterward, people in the U.
K.
grew their own grapes and made their own wine.
It was only after 1152, when Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II and wine from Bordeaux began to be sold in England, that commercial winegrowing in the U.
K.
began to fade.
When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, where winemaking traditionally took place, it died out entirely.
Luckily, however, there U.
K.
winemaking had a comeback in the 20th century-and today the U.
K.
produces some excellent wines.
If you're a wine lover, here are a few vineyards you won't want to miss.
Carr Taylor Vineyards.
In 1985, these winemakers were the first to make English sparkling wine.
Located in Westfield just six miles north of historic Hastings, the vineyard is situated in a sheltered valley of rich soil over a bed of Wealden sandstone-an ideal environment for grape-growing.
The vineyard is open to tours and sells sparkling, traditional, and a variety of fruit wines.
Three Choirs Vineyards.
This well-known and much awarded single-estate vineyard is located in Gloucestershire, with 75 acres of vines surrounded by a beautiful natural setting.
They host vineyard experience days, where guests can spend the day helping with wine harvesting and production, along with a three-course lunch, wine tasting, and two complementary bottles of wine.
Biddenden Vineyards.
This is the oldest commercial vineyard in Kent, dating back to 1969.
Located near Leeds Castle, this vineyard produces excellent wines along with apple and pear ciders and juices.
They offer free admissions and tastings.
Tours are available by appointment, and include a guided walk of the vineyards and winemaking facilities as well as a complementary tasting.
Llanerch Vineyards.
Located in the scenic countryside of Glamorgan in Wales, this vineyard offers the full visitor experience-fine dining, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, tours of the grounds and facilities, wine tastings, and even cooking classes.
The vineyard is one of the oldest commercial vineyards in Wales.
Rosemary Vineyard.
Located in the Isle of Wight, Rosemary Vineyard has 30 acres of vines and takes full advantage of the sunny, mild climate of the island.
They make wines, liqueurs, ciders, and juices made from their own locally grown fruits, and they have won several awards for their products-including gold at the Great Taste Awards in 2007 for their elderberry liqueur.
They offer tours and wine tastings to visitors by appointment.
Wylye Valley Vineyard.
This Wiltshire vineyard is picturesque and historic, but its' not a big tourist destination-there's no café, gift shop, or gourmet restaurant to be found on the grounds.
But the wine is superb, and the grounds and facilities are open to tours and tastings by appointment.
This is a great destination for anyone wanting a behind-the-scenes peek at an authentic vineyard without being part of the tourist crowd.
Shawsgate Vineyard.
Shawsgate is an award-winning vineyard located in Suffolk.
The grape varieties grown here include several strains of white grapes and Rondo, a frost-resistant red.
The grounds include a shop and a playground, and are open to the public for tours and tastings.
In addition, Shawsgate allows you to "rent" a row of vines on their property.
The vineyard will produce bottles of wine from your vines, which you can buy tax-free for a fraction of what they would cost in stores.
Camel Valley Vineyards.
There aren't many vineyards in Cornwall, but this vineyard makes a visit there worthwhile.
The Camel Valley Vineyards is located near Bodmin in Cornwall, and their 6,000 vines produce white, red, and sparkling wines.
The wines produced here have won many awards, including the UKVA President's Trophy for top wine across vintages, styles, and classes.
The vineyards are open to the public during visiting hours, with personal and group tours and wine tastings available.
The climate and soil of the U.
K.
have produced many excellent home-grown vintages, and a visit to its vineyards is sure to be enjoyable to wine lovers of all nationalities.
Whether you like whites, reds, sparkling wines, or fruit liqueurs, there's sure to be a vineyard in your area that suits your tastes.
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