Top 5 South East England Wine Tours: Taste & Discover

South East England is now creating some seriously fantastic wine. That means there is such a surprising amount of variety to uncork right on our doorstep. A day out tasting the best local blends among picturesque vineyards sounds pretty nice, right? So, that said, are you looking for a day filled with unique vineyard experiences? I mean, getting to swirl, sniff and sip local wine? Luckily, there are great options, from expert led tours to intimate tasting sessions, so it’s not very difficult to find something that really fits your taste. Very soon, you might just find a new favourite Pinot Noir or Bacchus.

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1. Gusbourne Estate, Kent

Gusbourne is really a standout option and it is situated right in the heart of Kent, or “the Garden of England,” as some might say. Known rather for its stunning sparkling wines, the folks here use the traditional methods. They often compare it to Champagne production. That adds some real flair to the experience, in a way. You’ll discover, just a bit, the nuances of how they cultivate their grapes. Tours here are pretty encompassing. Typically they take you through the entire winemaking and fermentation process, you know? Very fascinating! Tastings tend to be held, as a matter of fact, in really elegant spaces that almost overlook their lovely vineyards.

Now, Gusbourne tends to really provide several tour options. The “Discovery Tour” gives, at the end of the day, a thorough introduction, more or less, to their range, as a matter of fact. However, if you’re wanting a little something more, you might be tempted to try out “The Estate Tour”. In that case, you’ll get a more enhanced session. To be honest, you are paired up with canapés, alright. If, you know, food is just very welcome with the wine. They also often host some special events. Those events are mostly seasonal lunches and dinners. It’s very easy to keep an eye on their schedule to make it just an absolutely unique visit, or so.

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2. Ridgeview Wine Estate, Sussex

Ridgeview, situated at the base of the South Downs in Sussex, well it has certainly become an English wine royalty these days, you know? That family-run vineyard concentrates quite a bit on making high end sparkling wines. So, they’re known for elegance, clearly, and for their great finesse. I mean, it’s what I always look for, right? Ridgeview has tours so that guests may often be able to walk throughout the estate. People enjoy that, by the way, and find out regarding their history, mostly about the sustainable practices, really. Tastings really present the full variety of wines that are available; so something for most people to discover, very often!

The “Grand Tour” tends to be one of their most popular sessions, alright. It’s designed to present guests with their different styles and vintages, usually, in a very detailed fashion. In this experience, naturally, visitors do enjoy seated tasting sessions right within their tasting room, or if you are alright, right in the middle of the vineyard. Those with a deeper desire, in effect, might really appreciate their “Ultimate Ridgeview Experience.” As I was saying, it’s paired, naturally, with food sourced right from local producers; and this is usually, absolutely, what really just emphasises the terroir with their blends, in my view!

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3. Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey

Denbies is possibly among the UK’s largest wine producers, okay. The folks there are located in Surrey. They usually feature an amazing array of, you know, diverse tours as well as tasting events. The location of the vineyard gives rise to pretty breath taking views from the Surrey Hills. Visitors can possibly select many experiences, very. These typically encompass outdoor vineyard train tours and guided tours inside of their cellars. Tastings really encompass each of their award winning wines!

A really singular offering right from Denbies happens to be their “Indoor Cinema Tour.” This incorporates a fascinating 360° cinematic display. That really just goes into the history, so very naturally, right to the current wine production, almost as if it were reality! If you want something more, you are going to be tempted by the “Sparkling Afternoon Tea Tour”. What that does, it pairs their great wines. They go well, too, as a matter of fact, with delightful sandwiches, like your scones, okay, right and pastries, still right with the breath taking backdrop with the vineyard! This really might just be a complete wine-themed escape.

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4. Chapel Down, Kent

Chapel Down is probably one of the most renowned wineries here in England; and it is located, to be honest, near Tenterden here in Kent. It often makes many English sparkling wines. Also, it does produce some rather very elegant gins and vodka to experience. You might be taken on guided tours within the vineyard. Also the tours, too, as a matter of fact, usually bring visitors to their modern winemaking plant; that really explains how each of the steps usually transforms grapes directly in those award winning drinks! Chapel Down actually likes providing different options and experiences, even like your tutored tastings; okay you might try your hand in blending events also.

If one had a chance, and if there was one tour you can choose, might just have to, literally, be “The Grand Tour.” Very often this session provides very exclusive use of the winery for roughly 2.5 hours, literally including a thorough vineyard, I would imagine, plus distillery tour. You would often experience several sparkling wines, as well as spirits. You get paired along with a charcuterie plus cheese platter; honestly sourced usually, directly from some of the best local producers around. For more tailored enjoyment, perhaps, you might decide, alright, their “Gin Works Tour”. What this session often entails, as a matter of fact, is visiting all of their distillery followed by a blending session, that helps everyone to really develop their unique bottle of gin!

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5. Balfour Winery, Kent

Balfour Winery is known for the really great location here in Kent. Also, it’s situated among ancient woodlands on the Hush Heath Estate, right? They have tours for, really, both wine lovers as well as nature enthusiasts! A visitor just might walk amongst their vines with guided tours that reveal how they craft the delicious Balfour blends. What visitors enjoy quite a bit, as a matter of fact, is trying different still plus sparkling wines at their tasting room!

One of their notable offerings is most often their “Wine & Cheese Experience,” obviously a common theme, mostly including a cheese pairing in association using local cheeses, still bringing just an, alright, another angle on each taste, just so. To enhance your, really, exploration of this estate even more; consider also trying “The Balfour Big Adventure.” Very fascinating! It brings visitors around those vineyards, typically by all terrain vehicle that. Also it might just bring exploration within those surrounding forest lands, really. This kind of is best really to fully appreciate the gorgeous Kent countryside and it does so very naturally. You’d never guess it!

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