From Sussex sparkling wine to the vines of North Yorkshire, discover five English vineyards offering tours, tastings and unhurried late summer afternoons.
Late summer has a quiet charm of its own. Harvest is close, the pace slows and there’s every reason to linger. A picnic between the rows, a guided tasting, an afternoon in the surrounding countryside: each estate offers a memorable way to savour the season before autumn arrives.
Wiston Estate, Sussex
Some lunches deserve to linger. At Wiston Estate, a guided walk through the South Downs National Park leads to Findon Park Vineyard, where award-winning sparkling wines are enjoyed among the very vines that produced them.
The experience ends with a generous picnic of charcuterie, local cheeses, focaccia and seasonal salads, served al fresco whenever the weather allows. It’s an afternoon that captures everything there is to love about late summer.
Book a Wiston Estate vineyard tour
Simpsons Wine Estate, Kent
Hidden within the Elham Valley, Simpsons Wine Estate offers a fascinating glimpse into the craft behind English winemaking. A stroll through the Roman Road vineyard gives way to a tour of the contemporary winery before the experience culminates in the elegant Glass House Tasting Room.
Overlooking the winery itself, the guided tasting feels closely connected to the landscape and craftsmanship behind every bottle.
Book a Simpsons Wine Estate tour and tasting
Polgoon Vineyard, Cornwall
Cornwall may be best known for its coastline, but Polgoon offers another reason to venture inland. Guided tours weave through England’s most westerly mainland vineyard before finishing with a tasting of the estate’s award-winning wines and ciders.
Dogs are welcome too, making Polgoon an ideal stop for those exploring with four-legged companions. It’s the sort of place where one tasting has a habit of becoming an afternoon.
Amber Valley Vineyards, Derbyshire
Perched above the Derbyshire countryside, Amber Valley Vineyards offers a warm and personal introduction to one of England’s more unexpected wine regions. Tours led by owner and vigneron Barry share the story of growing vines in the Midlands before guests settle in for a tasting.
There’s no need to rush away afterwards. Locally sourced picnic hampers and traditional cream tea boxes invite visitors to linger beneath the orchard trees, turning a wine tasting into a leisurely countryside escape.
Book an Amber Valley vineyard experience
Ryedale Vineyards, North Yorkshire
England’s most northerly commercial vineyard has been quietly producing wines for decades, inviting visitors to discover Yorkshire’s place in the English wine story. Guided walks through the vines are followed by tastings paired with locally sourced cheeses.
For those keen to make an afternoon of it, cream teas are served before the tour begins. It’s a simple addition that perfectly complements a relaxed day spent among the vines.
Harvest may be just around the corner, but there’s still time for one more leisurely afternoon among the vines. The walks may earn you a little extra appetite, but the real reward is taking the time to savour every glass, plate and view along the way.