England’s wine tourism is booming. A unique microclimate coupled with spectacular sea views give our coastal vineyards the edge. REBECCA PITCAIRN picks 12 that should be on your bucket list
For centuries the English were more focused on drinking wine than producing it but since the dawn of the 21stcentury, that has changed. Historically England and Wales’ climate was considered too cold to make good quality wine, however, climate change is having a huge impact on the quality and styles of wine that we can now produce.
Researchers have predicted that the exceptional vintage experienced in the UK in 2018 will soon be the norm with significant areas of the country projected to become a further 1.4°C warmer during the growing season by 2040.
According to Wine GB’s latest industry report, there are now 897 vineyards in the UK (although that number is likely to have risen to over 900 since the report was published in September 2022) and plantings are up 70 per cent since 2017 – there is now four times as much land under vine than there was in 2000.
A key factor in the shape of the industry, says Wine GB CEO Simon Thorpe, is the “stratospheric rise in the importance of wine tourism’ and with a recent VisitBritain survey suggesting 42 per cent of inbound tourists would enjoy a visit to a winery, the race is on to create the best visitor experience. With a unique microclimate and spectacular sea views, England’s coastal vineyards already have an advantage. Here’s my delightful dozen of coastal vineyards for you to try:
1 Adgestone Vineyard, Isle of Wight
The turquoise waters surrounding the Isle of Wight were the inspiration for Adgestone Vineyard’s remarkably unique selling point – ablue-coloured sparkling wine. But that’s not the only quirky offering owners Russ and Philippa Broughton have created on their ten-acre vineyard on the east coast of the island – you’ll find pigs and pygmy goats on site to keep the kiddies entertained and tours, starting at £10, include a visit to the subterranean cellar. Visit between June and September and you’ll also get to experience live acoustic music as you tuck into a sharing platter and cool glass of English wine on the terrace while admiring uninterrupted sea views. adgestonevineyard.co.uk
Bottle to buy: It has to be Adgestone’s signature Something Blue, the only bluecoloured sparkling wine made in the UK, £39.
2 Cobble Hill Vineyard, Docking, Norfolk
The Perowne family have successfully farmed the land in north Norfolk for many generations
