It’s harvest season in the vineyards; summer is just starting to wane, the wind is beginning to chill, and the vines are loaded with grapes - come September, the vineyards of Europe are ripe for a visit.
Your mind might jump instantly to the rolling hills of Tuscany, but the sunny-skies of Norfolk have made England an underrated but attractive alternative.
Book a guided tour, romantic picnic or traditional wine tasting in one of Norfolk’s award-winning vineyards.
Winbirri Vineyard
Winbirri Vineyard is bringing international recognition to Norfolk’s wine scene.
A dozen grape varieties are grown here, from whites like Chardonnay to the red Pinot Noir. But it’s Bacchus, a white grape, that is really putting Norfolk on the map.
The grape thrives in the cooler English climate, and the still wine produced has a complex and delicate flavour, with strong notes of citrus and elderflower. The 2015 Bacchus vintage garnered international acclaim, winning the prestigious Platinum Best in Show Decanter Award for ‘Best Single-Varietal White Wine in the World’. Winbirri is the first English vineyard to earn such an achievement.
The family-run winery, in the quaint and picturesque Surlingham area near Norwich, is managed by hands-on owner and experienced winemaker, Lee Dyer. Tours of the vineyard and tasting experience days are led by Lee, who shares his wealth of knowledge and expertise on the art of winemaking, and the history of the vineyard as he guides you around the grounds.
After completing the tour of the vineyard and winery, you will be invited to taste a selection of Winbirri’s award-winning wines.
If unable to catch a guided tour and tasting experience, you can still visit the vineyard’s Wine Garden. The romantic space, within touching distance of the vines, is the perfect place to relax and indulge in a selection of Winbirri’s fantastic wines.
Chet Valley Vineyard
Tucked away in the rural fields of Bergh Apton, South Norfolk, the family-run Chet Valley Vineyard sits only a few miles south of Winbirri.
The sun-drenched fields are postcard-perfect, and the rich clay soil makes an ideal environment for growing grapes. The vineyard is located in a quiet and remote part of the Norfolk countryside - you can enjoy a glimpse of the simple life here; it’s all green fields, quaint villages and big blue skies.
Chet Valley Vineyard’s wine tasting tours and vineyard picnics lean into the rustic beauty of Norfolk’s most rural areas. You can sit among the vines for a romantic picnic, dining on a luxury menu of locally sourced foods. The picnic is curated to balance flavours with the accompanying wines, all produced from the vineyard that surrounds you.
The flagship wine of Chet Valley is the sparkling Méthode Champenoise, ‘Horatio’, while the Charmat-style ‘Skylark’ wines and ‘Redwing’ rosé are also acclaimed.
The tour is led by head winemaker, owner and Norfolk local John Hemmant, who was one of the first to plant a vineyard in the county. He tells the story of his experiences - of seeing potential in the clay filled farmland, and the journey of transforming it into an award-winning vineyard. The single estate vineyard spans over 10 hectares of family-owned land, and is run by John and his wife, Bridget.
Flint Vineyard
Nestled in the scenic Waveney Valley, the Flint Vineyard is a newcomer to Norfolk’s wine scene.
The vines were planted in 2016 - and first harvested in 2019 - by Ben and Hannah Witchell. Ben learned the craft of winemaking first at Plumpton College, and then gained hands-on experience in Beaujolais, France. The aim was to create world-class wines right from the get-go, and with the excellent Bacchus and Pinot Noir vintages of 2016, it’s fair to say they’ve succeeded.
Ben and Hannah aim to ensure that every visit to their vineyard is a special experience. The tour takes you through the vineyards and winery, where the intricacies of wine-making are discussed and any and all questions are answered.
The tour includes a full tasting of the vineyard’s current wines, so you can just clink your glasses and sit back to admire the spectacular views over the Norfolk countryside.
If you wish to stay for lunch, the vineyard offers a selection of the finest local produce, all sourced from within a 15 mile radius.
Burn Valley Vineyard
Burn Valley Vineyard is located four miles from the beautiful North Norfolk coast, just outside Burnham Market.
It’s a real family affair. The vineyard was established by two sisters - Laura & Samantha - who run the site from their family farm in North Creake, while their brother farms the surrounding land. Like Flint Vineyard, Burn Valley is a new addition to the Norfolk landscape. The 12 acres of vines were planted in 2016 - and the vineyard has been producing award-winning wines from the on-site winery since 2019.
There are nine varieties of grape growing in the vineyard. For the reds, there are Early Pinot, Rondo, Regent and Pinot Noir varieties, while Bacchus, Chardonnay, Solaris, Seyval Blanc and Schonburger make up the whites.
You can sample all of Burn Valley’s wines during a tasting tour, and follow it up with a leisurely wander through the vineyard. The wines are rich in flavour, as the farm is an ideal site for grape growing; the soil is free draining, with a chalk base and stony ground to provide warmth. Aside from the tasting tours, Burn Valley also hosts Secret Suppers. You can enjoy 5 mystery courses alongside recent vintages at the popular event.
For those staying in or around the North Norfolk coast, visiting the Burn Valley Vineyard is an obvious choice. You can experience the famous open skies while sipping award-winning wines right at the source.
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