Europe & Britain | Destination Guides

Why You Should Visit These British Vineyards

Recently updated on January 22nd, 2020 at 08:27 pm

In recent years, British wine production has undeniably flourished. With over 450 vineyards in England alone, Britain is seen as one of the world’s great emerging wine regions, turning the heads of oenophiles worldwide and winning countless awards. With so much to see across the United Kingdom, here’s why you should make time to visit our favourite British vineyards on your next trip.

British Vineyards

Among the abundance of new British wine being produced, English sparkling wines have become particularly successful, with many British varieties now competing with Old World regions like Champagne – so much so, in fact, that Taittinger have announced plans to produce their own English sparkling wine in Kent. Chardonnay grapes are used for many of these sparkling varieties alongside Pinot Noir, which is also used to make light-bodied reds. Nyetimber and Chapel Down are two wineries that have proven to be resoundingly popular among wine critics and amateur enthusiasts alike, famous for the distinctly British characteristics of their wines.

British Vineyards

Over the border in Wales, some of the local British vineyards are opening their cellar doors for visitors to see behind the scenes, while sampling some of the wines produced onsite. Just half an hour from the Welsh capital of Cardiff is the rural landscape of the Vale of Glamorgan. Here, in Hensol, the Davies family of Llanerch Vineyard welcomes guests on to the 22-acre estate where they cultivate 10 acres of vines, which were first planted back in 1986. Today, the vineyard produces award-winning wines in 10 different varieties.

British Vineyards

After being greeted by the family, guests are given a tour of the family’s vineyard while finding out about its history, with a glass of their popular Cariad sparkling wine, accompanied by canapés such as cockles and lava bread tartlet, or Black Mountain smoked salmon crostinis. The gathering can then sit down to a hearty Welsh meal that showcases the season’s local produce, like roast Welsh lamb or Usk river salmon.

British Vineyards

Glyndwr Vineyard is situated close by in the small village of Llanblethian. It was in 1982 that Sue and Richard Norris first planted vines here on the slopes after inheriting the land, making it the oldest vineyard in Wales. Across six acres, 6,000 vines have been planted to produce two white wines, a rosé, a red and three vintage sparkling wines, with a distinctive label featuring the Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr riding into battle. These wines have been so well received that they’ve even served in the House of Lords.

British Vineyards

On the vineyard, chickens, ducks and pheasants roam freely, and in keeping with the landscape that surrounds the vines, the grapes are cultivated entirely organically. The vineyard’s adjoining garden is open to the National Garden Scheme, with ponds, woodland, and orchards from which apples are used to make cider.

Upon arriving at the farmhouse, guests are taken on a walk through the vineyards and garden and given a welcome glass of the Glyndwr’s sparkling wine, before being served a generous spread of homemade food using locally produced ingredients.

Visit these British vineyards with Trafalgar by joining the Real Britain trip.

Image credits: Cover photo of an English vineyard © iStock / Mypurgatoryyears. Harvest on an English vineyard © iStock / Rene Mansi. An event at Llanerch Vineyard © courtesy of Llanerch Vineyard. A view over Llanerch Vineyard © courtesy of Llanerch Vineyard. The house at Llanerch Vineyard © courtesy of Llanerch Vineyard. The llamas at Glyndwr Vineyard © courtesy of Glyndwr Vineyard.

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