THE BEST ENGLISH WINERY VISITS
Not that long ago you would struggle to catch a glimpse of vines in England. Now, slope after sunny slope is carpeted in vines, in the southeast particularly, with more than 160 wineries open to the public in some form or other. And as wineries have multiplied, producing bottles that are gaining recognition worldwide (total sales of 5.5m bottles in 2019 grew from 3.2m in 2018), producers are exploring business opportunities beyond simply selling wine.
Cue the wine tourist. From gourmet picnics among the vines, to vineyard rambles with winery owners, from a lease-your-own-vine scheme, to a sauna in a wine barrel, a growing number of wineries are offering much more than a taste of their finest. Even major attractions are getting in on the act – we’re thinking of you, Sussex Modern, a partnership between some of the UK’s most vibrant and pioneering cultural organisations and vineyards.
Where to start? We’ve come up with a list to focus minds, each with a particular USP – just in time to celebrate English Wine Week, which runs this year from 19-27 June.
