From the rolling hills of Provence to the famed wineries of Napa Valley, wine destinations around the world have long held an appeal for enthusiasts looking to explore their viticulture.
However, over the last few years, a new player has emerged on the global wine stage.
The United Kingdom.
Searches for ‘vineyards near me’ in the UK have increased by 350% in the last five years according to Google.
So, to keep up with soaring demand, Great Britain has actually increased its total land under vine by 74% over the past five years and British wineries produced 130% more bottles in 2022 than in 2017.
The nation’s temperate climate and chalky soils offer a distinct terroir to vineyards, with sparkling wines flourishing and being likened to their esteemed counterparts from Champagne.
And as the reputation of UK wines continues to blossom, so does the allure of wine tourism within Great Britain and more and more travellers are planning getaways across the nation that explore enchanting vineyards and the growing wine culture firsthand.
That’s why Independent Cottages has found out the best regions in the UK to visit for anyone hoping for a wine-inspired getaway. We analysed each of Great Britain’s counties based on the number of vineyards, number of wineries, and number of wine bars it is home to, as well as the percentage of organic wine and number of award-winning wines it produces.
The Best UK Destinations For Wine Tourism
1. Kent
Taking the top spot for the best UK destination to visit for wine tourism is Kent. In fact, Google searches for ‘wine tours of Kent’ have increased by 4950% in the last five years. Probably unsurprising considering that the region is home to the most vineyards in the UK, with 103 at last count, including the esteemed Chapel Down vineyard.
As a result, Kent also has the most award-winning wines of any UK region, with Gusbourne’s Reserve Late Disgorged Brut 2015 being an International Wine & Spirit Competition Silver Medal Winner. And where to try Kent’s wine? Well, the region is home to the most wine bars outside of London, with 24 in total, so you won’t be short of places to enjoy a tipple!
For anyone looking to take a wine-inspired getaway in Kent should consider staying in Tamworth Cottage, just a short drive away from Chapel Down vineyard. The two-bedroom property is a converted pigsty on a Kentish sheep farm within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the old sea cliffs of the ‘Isle of Oxney’.
2. Hampshire
In second place is fellow South English county, Hampshire. It is the only region with a gold medal-winning product in the International Wine & Spirit Competition with its RAIMES English Sparkling Classic Brut 2018 and Hattingley Valley Wines Classic Reserve Brut NV.
Hampshire is home to two wineries and 58 vineyards at last count, including England’s oldest commercial vineyard which was established in 1952, Hambledon Vineyard. The long-established vineyard produces some of the best-located Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the country. Google searches for the vineyard have increased by 150% in the UK in the last 12 months.
If you’re considering visiting Hampshire in search of good wine, we recommend staying at East Cottage in Avington as it’s just a short distance from the esteemed RAIMES vineyard. The three-bedroom property offers complete tranquillity in its sleepy location opposite the River Itchen.
3. Devon
Securing the final position in the top three is Devon. The region boasts an impressive 57 vineyards and three wineries. Devon also boasts 8 wine bars including The Wine Loft in Brixham, which has a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor.
Devon also has an award-winning wine – Lympstone Manor Estate’s Triassic Pinot Noir 2020. The oaked Pinot Noir has an ageing length of 18 years, so you can definitely buy one to take home and drink at a later date.
Grooms Cottage in Winkleigh is a great place to stay if you want to explore Devon’s vineyards and is just a short drive away from Torview Wines. An attractive two-bedroom property with a thatched roof, it is also only ten miles from the rugged beauty of Dartmoor National Park.
4. East Sussex
In fourth position is Sussex, a region that is typically considered to be the ‘wine capital’ of the UK. This could be a result of East Sussex being home to the second-most vineyards and wineries of any UK region, with 73 and five respectively. In fact, Google searches for ‘Sussex vineyards’ have increased by a staggering 5000% in the last five years.
When it comes to how the region produces its wine, 7.69% of East Sussex’s produce is organic – the fourth highest number in the study. The region is only home to three wine bars though so you’re probably best enjoying the produce at the vineyards themselves.
If you’re hoping to visit East Sussex to try its famed wines, we recommend Owl Cottage in North Chailey, which is closeby to the region’s Bluebell Vineyard. The three-bedroom barn conversion offers lovely rural walks and views over a fishing lake in the gorgeous East Sussex countryside.
5. Greater London
Rounding up the top five is Greater London. The region is home to the highest number of wine bars, with a total of 33 establishments dedicated to the beverage. There is plenty to choose from, that’s for sure. Greater London also boasts the most wineries in the UK as the region has seven located within its bounds.
Of the top five, Greater London is home to the highest number of organic wines with 10.53% of its produce being made organically: only Oxfordshire and Leicestershire produce a higher percentage. The region did fall down slightly on the number of award-winning wines it produces, which is zero, and it is actually only home to 10 vineyards in total.
Methodology
To find out which UK regions are the best for wine tourism, we analysed each for the following data points:
- The number of vineyards
- The number of wineries
- The percentage of organic wine
- The number of wine bars
- The number of award-winning wines
Regions, where a full dataset was not available, were omitted from the study.
Data is correct as of July 2023.
Sources include the International Wine and Spirits Competition, Tripadvisor, and English Wine.
A full data set is available upon request.