The mistake many visitors make when exploring England’s vineyards is trying to visit only the famous names.
The French learnt long ago that the magic of a wine region lies in the contrast between celebrated estates, family-run vineyards and those wonderful discoveries that you almost hesitate to tell your friends about. It is the variety that makes the experience memorable; the grand estate producing award-winning wines enjoyed around the world, the ambitious family vineyard building a reputation one bottle at a time, and the passionate owner whose dream has become a handful of vines on a sunny hillside.
This is the vineyard journey we love most.
With two nights at South Lodge in Sussex and two nights at Heckfield Place in Hampshire, you can spend three wonderfully unhurried days exploring three of England’s most exciting wine regions. Along the way you will discover world-class sparkling wines, extraordinary countryside and some of the people helping to shape one of the most exciting stories in modern British food and drink.
Day One: The South Downs of Sussex
If there is a more beautiful place to begin an English wine journey than the South Downs, I have yet to find it.
This is a landscape of sweeping chalk hills, ancient farmsteads and winding country lanes that seem designed for leisurely exploration. The vineyards sit comfortably within the landscape, as though they have always belonged here, and on a summer morning it is easy to understand why so many visitors compare this corner of England to some of Europe’s most celebrated wine regions.
Begin your day at Rathfinny. High above the Sussex countryside, with views stretching towards the sea, the estate immediately conveys a sense of ambition and confidence. Founded by Mark and Sarah Driver, Rathfinny has become one of the defining names in English wine, producing sparkling wines that regularly stand alongside some of the finest bottles in Europe. A private tour offers a fascinating insight into the scale of the operation, but it is the setting that often leaves the strongest impression. The rolling vineyards seem to disappear into the horizon.
For lunch, there are few better places to linger. A glass of sparkling wine enjoyed on the terrace, looking out across the vines and the South Downs beyond, feels wonderfully indulgent and entirely justified.
The afternoon offers a delightful contrast at Ridgeview, one of the pioneers of England’s sparkling wine revolution. Family-owned and deeply rooted in Sussex, Ridgeview’s story is one of vision, determination and a belief in English wine long before most people were paying attention. The wines are exceptional, but so too is the sense of heritage and achievement that accompanies every visit.
Finish the day at Ambriel, where the scale becomes smaller and the experience more personal. Conversations often drift from wine to family, from harvests to local life, and as the afternoon sun softens across the vineyard, it feels less like a commercial tasting and more like being welcomed into somebody’s passion project.
Return to South Lodge for dinner and a comfortable night’s sleep. Tomorrow brings another landscape and another chapter in England’s wine story.
Day Two: Hampshire’s Chalk Hills
The journey west into Hampshire reveals a different side of England’s wine country.
The hills are broader, the countryside quieter and the sense of rural tradition perhaps even stronger. Yet beneath this timeless landscape lies one of the most dynamic wine regions in the country.
Begin at Hambledon, widely regarded as the birthplace of modern English wine. Established in 1952, this historic vineyard helped lay the foundations for everything that followed. There is something rather special about standing among vines that have played such an important role in the story of English winemaking. The estate combines heritage and innovation beautifully, producing sparkling wines that continue to set the benchmark for many others.
For lunch, make your way to Hattingley Valley. What began as a family diversification project has evolved into one of England’s most decorated wineries, with an extraordinary collection of international awards to its name. Yet despite its success, there remains a refreshing entrepreneurial spirit here. The winery itself is impressive, but it is the warmth of the people and the passion behind the wines that visitors often remember most. A relaxed tasting and lunch among the vines provides the perfect centrepiece to the day.
Later, visit The Grange, a boutique producer nestled within Hampshire’s rolling countryside. The atmosphere here is quieter, more intimate and wonderfully authentic. The wines are crafted with remarkable care, and the experience feels closer to being welcomed by friends than attending a formal tasting. It is the perfect reminder that great wine is ultimately about people and place.
Spend the evening at Heckfield Place, whose beautiful grounds, exceptional food and deep connection to the surrounding countryside make it one of England’s most rewarding rural retreats.
Day Three: Oxfordshire’s Hidden Vineyards
The final day takes you north towards the Chiltern Hills and the hidden valleys of Oxfordshire.
This is perhaps England’s most underrated wine region. Ancient woodlands, chalk streams, market towns and rolling hills create a landscape that rewards curiosity. The vineyards here feel woven into the countryside rather than dominating it, and each has a distinctly individual character.
Start at Rowles Vineyard, tucked away in beautiful countryside near Newbury. Family-owned and deeply personal, Rowles feels like the sort of place that visitors dream of discovering for themselves. There is no sense of corporate scale here. Instead, what you find is enthusiasm, craftsmanship and a genuine connection between the people making the wine and the landscape that surrounds them. It is exactly the sort of vineyard that reminds visitors why wine touring is at its best when it feels personal.
Lunch belongs to Hundred Hills.
If Rathfinny is impressive, Hundred Hills is elegant. Set among ancient woodland and rolling chalk hills, the winery feels effortlessly contemporary while remaining rooted in its surroundings. The tasting room is stylish without being intimidating, the wines have earned a place on some of Britain’s finest wine lists and the views across the estate are magnificent. It is the sort of place where lunch stretches comfortably into the afternoon and nobody feels any urgency to leave.
The final stop is JoJo’s Vineyard, perched high in the Chiltern Hills near Henley-on-Thames. Founded by Ian and Tess, JoJo’s is very much a labour of love. The welcome is warm, the wines are handcrafted in small quantities and the whole experience feels wonderfully genuine. Visitors are treated less like customers and more like friends joining the family for an afternoon among the vines.
Together, the three vineyards tell the story of modern English wine perfectly. One is a family passion project, one is among the country’s most exciting premium sparkling wine producers and one feels like being invited into somebody’s dream.
Of course, three days is merely the beginning.
Between the vineyards lie magnificent gardens, stately homes, castles, market towns and hidden corners of the countryside waiting to be explored. Extend the journey to six days and you could easily add Windsor Castle, Highclere Castle, the gardens of West Green House, the villages of the South Downs, the market towns of Hampshire or the hidden beauty of the Chilterns.
Yet even if you only have three days, you will leave with a new appreciation of English wine and, perhaps more importantly, a deeper understanding of the landscapes, families and traditions that make it so special. England may not have been producing wine for as long as Burgundy or Mendoza, but after three days spent among these vineyards, you may well wonder why it took you so long to discover it.