English Wine Week gets underway today (Saturday) with the aim of shining a light on England's wonderful producders.
From June 19 to 27, the week highlights the work of more than 500 English wineries which make around five million bottles each year.
And to mark the week, here are the opportunities in Herefordshire to enjoy English wine by visiting a local vineyard.
Despite Herefordshire being well-known for its cider making credentials, the county is now becoming recognised for its wines too.
Visit Herefordshire is encouraging those holidaying here this summer, and locals living in the county, to book a winery experience.
Here are some of the best vineyards to visit in the county.
Winery Sleepover at Wythall Estate
Wythall Estate, near the market town of Ross-on-Wye, is set in one of the finest agricultural growing areas in England and makes award winning wines such as the Siegerrebe Wythall Estate white.
Sleeping over at the vineyard makes for a very special experience, especially when combined with a guided tour of the winery and a tutored tasting in the sixteenth century Manor house (available from February to December).
The house is set in gorgeous gardens with a freshwater lake and wooded grounds surrounding the vines. The two separate self-contained cottages are in the west wing of the Manor house, with The Game Larders sleeping two and The Old Bakehouse sleeping four. Dogs are welcome at both.
A one night stay in the Game Larders costs from £99, and a one night stay in The Bakehouse costs from £146 (both bookable on Airbnb).
Those not staying over are invited to join vineyard tours and tastings which take place on certain Saturdays throughout the year and cost £20 per person. Pre-booking required.
Tour and Taste at Coddington Vineyard
Coddington Vineyard, just four miles from the market town of Ledbury is a family affair run by Peter and Sharon Maiden, who produce a boutique selection of wines; and rent out two different self- catering properties.
Thirty-minute tours followed by a tasting of three wines in their cellar cost from £15 per person.
You can also book a table in the gorgeous Coddington gardens to enjoy a tasting and nibbles followed by a bottle of your choice for £30 for two people (£10 for an additional person to join). This experience is available on Saturdays and Sundays only.
Coddington’s collection of single variety wines, along with a variety of delicious local produce, can be purchased from their shop in the old apple press house, and their award winning Bacchus and sparkling Pinot Gris are particularly popular.
Take a Wine Tour at Foxbury Fields
Foxbury Fields Vineyard, at the foot of the Malvern Hills in Bromsberrow, produces small batch Bacchus and Ortega wines from grapes grown in their own unique micro-climate.
Owners Heather Williamson and Richard Baker are now opening up the vineyard for tours and tastings giving guests the chance to try their classic vintage English Bacchus and their delightfully perfumed Ortega at the winery.
Their first tour and tasting event is on 19th June to mark the start of English Wine Week and additional dates throughout the summer will be added to the website shortly.
Bookings can be made by calling Heather on 07974793367 or emailing heather@foxburyfields.co.uk.
Tours, Tastings and Vineyard Shopping at Frome Valley
Standing on the banks of the River Frome at Paunton, near Bishops Frome on the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border, Frome Valley Vineyard is surrounded by orchards, hop yards and rolling meadows.
For their still and sparkling wines they grow Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Reichensteiner, Madeleine Angevine, and Huxelrebe varieties – all well suited to their gentle, southern facing slope and the long growing season needed to ripen.
The on-site shop sells their wines, cider and brandy and they are open to visitors for tours and tastings.
A Sparkling Welcome at Black Mountain Vineyard
Black Mountain Vineyard set in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside produces three distinct sparkling wines all grown and bottled on site – a sparkling white, a sparkling rose and a Col Fondo.
Mark and Laura Smith planted the vineyard in 2009 with a wealth of knowledge from working harvests in France, studying viticulture and oenology and working with a local organic producer.
They’re very happy for people to make an arrangement to visit for a show-round – ideal for those staying in the Golden Valley area of Herefordshire, against the backdrop of the Black Mountains and near to the literary hub of Hay-on-Wye.
Enjoy a Taste of Herefordshire at Home with Castle Brook
Castle Brook Vineyard is run by the Chinn family, who are best known for producing Wye Valley Asparagus.
They planted the Castle Brook vines in 2004 on the site of an ancient Roman vineyard in the shadow of the Black Mountains and now grow 21 different clones of the three traditional Champagne grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay – on three different rootstocks which has created really exciting blends.
Their range of three sparkling wines (Classic Cuvée, Rosé, Blanc de Blancs) are all traditional method, bottle fermented Brut (dry) wines each with their own unique style, and available to order online.
The Castle Brook name is derived from the farmhouse that sits at the bottom of the vineyard – an ancient building that was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday book as a coaching inn which is named after the ruins of Penyard Castle which overlooks the valley and the Coughton Brook which runs through it.
For more information on days out in Herefordshire this year visit visitherefordshire.co.uk.
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