Surrey’s Rising Star Vineyards – Redefining English Wine by Yves de Contades
Once the punchline in a joke about soggy summers and lukewarm reds, English wine is now pouring into the spotlight elegantly, effervescently and with a touch of Surrey sophistication. Long gone are the days when British terroir was dismissed by connoisseurs with raised eyebrows and reluctant sips.
Today, a new crop of vineyards in Surrey is quietly revolutionising the scene, crafting world-class wines with all the polish and pedigree one might expect from Provence or Champagne but with distinctly homegrown charm.
Tucked into the rolling North Downs, Surrey has become England’s unsung wine hero. With chalk-rich soil akin to that of France’s Champagne region and a warming climate that’s just enough of a silver lining to global warming, the county is now home to some of the most exciting new vineyards in the country. These aren’t your grandparents’ vineyards either these estates blend cutting-edge winemaking with the kind of luxury experiences you’d expect from a five-star escape.
If you’re ready to swap Bordeaux for Box Hill and trade Tuscany for the Thames Valley, here are the top new Surrey vineyards making a splash and the wine-tasting weekends worth cancelling your continental plans for.
High Clandon Estate Vineyard The Boutique Beauty
Perched on the Surrey Hills, High Clandon is less a vineyard and more a poetic experience with a cork in it. Though not entirely new, its reinvention and growing recognition over the past few years make it worthy of a fresh spotlight. Owners Bruce and Sibylla Tindale have created a sparkling wine haven where visitors are greeted with stunning views, sculpture gardens, and a lovingly curated Glass Barn that hosts tastings, art exhibitions, and a rather excellent cheese board.
Continue reading with a subscription ↓
