12-05-2025
4 of the best vineyards in the UK to experience English wine
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
There was a time, not so long ago really, when English oenophiles looking to set up shop had no choice but to relocate to the balmier climes of France or Italy. Not anymore. A changing climate, a culture of experimentation and greater awareness of which regions are best suited to grape growing have combined to make England one of Europe's most exciting viticultural destinations — and it shows. Across the country, you'll find tours and tastings that showcase some of England's best homegrown producers.
Minerva Wines was born in 2015 after local farmer Emma Rice was inspired by a trip to Beaune — which lies at the centre of Burgundy's winemaking region — to plant some 10,000 vines at Corston Fields Farm in Somerset. A grape's toss from Bath's Georgian crescents and Roman pools, the vineyard is launching new experiences last spring, with visitors invited to join supper clubs, partake in vine-side tastings of sparkling vintages. This year, guests can experience something a little more unusual: an immersive wine and sound experience that sees Minerva pair each of its wines with an AI-generated musical soundtrack, shedding light on the unseen connection between sound and flavour.
The barley fields that blanket Norfolk have made the county a centre for beer and brewing, but it's the region's burgeoning wine industry that's stealing the limelight this summer. Norwich Wine Week will see the medieval city host some of the region's most important wine producers, amid the timber beams of Dragon Hall, including Burn Valley Vineyard and Chet Valley Vineyard. Events kick off on 18 June, ushering in a week-long festival that'll showcase Norfolk's food and music as well as its viticulture. Expect talks and tastings in award-winning restaurants and historical buildings throughout the city.
Since 2015, Taittinger — the renowned French winemaking family and producers of Champagne — has been quietly planting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines on the sunny, south-facing slopes around Selling Court Farm in Kent. The result is Domaine Evremond, the first UK vineyard established by a Grande Marque Champagne — one of France's 24 'big-brand' Champagne houses. It's been a long time coming, but the first bottles of its premium sparkling wine, the Classic Cuvée, are now available to try, with guided tastings taking place on the winery's panoramic terrace.
Stitched into Herefordshire's sage-green hills, White Heron Estate is perhaps best known as the producer behind British Cassis, a sharp, fruity liqueur crafted using blackcurrants from the family-run fruit farm's plantations. More recently, operations have expanded to include a vineyard of Seyval Blanc, Madeleine Angevine and Reichensteiner grapes. The Green family has long welcomed visitors for tastings and guided tours, but thanks to a new e-bike excursion launched in April 2025, guests can now explore the estate's vineyards, orchards and blackcurrant fields from the saddle, stopping for glasses of cider, cassis and sparkling white wine en route.
Published in the April 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
