Wine might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Cotswolds, but the limestone-rich soils of the region’s hills are prefect for growing grapes. And a rising number of local winemakers are putting them to good use – from award-winning sparkling wines which give Champagne a run for its money to crisp whites and light summer reds. So if you want to learn more and try it yourself, here are the best vineyards in the Cotswolds for a wine tour and tasting.
Woodchester Valley Vineyard, Stroud
The biggest and best-known of the vineyards in the Cotswolds is Woodchester Valley in the Stroud Valleys. It’s also one of the oldest, with the first vines being planted in 2007. Today the vineyard covers 58 acres across three different sites – Stonehouse, Amberley and Woodchester.
The different soil, slope and aspect in each site means they can grow 11 different grape varieties, used to make red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. These include Sauvignon Blanc, which despite not usually thriving in the UK, won a coveted medal at the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters.
How to visit: Woodchester Valley Vineyard offer two main tours, both of which last 1 hour 45 minutes and run several times a week year-round. The Classic tour costs £25 (or £45 with an added lunch hamper). And the Premium tour is £40 with more samples plus food pairings.
There are also lots of events at the vineyard, including dog walks, cheese and wine evenings, and Friday fizz and chips. You can stay on site too, with a choice of three Vineyard Barn suites for two, the two-bedroom Retreat Farmhouse or six-bedroom Woodchester Valley House.
Convent Lane, Woodchester, Stroud GL5 5HR
Poulton Hill Estate, Cirencester
Poulton Hill Estate was founded in 2010, just east of Cirencester and the Cotswold Lakes. Since then they’ve built up an impressive range of white, red, rosé and sparkling wines, bagging over 40 awards and nominations over the years. Their flagship wine is Bulari – a Latin word for bubbles – which they have plans to make into a brand name for quality English sparkling wine.
Poulton Hill now produce around 20,000 bottles of wine a year, as well as brandy, vermouth and Sloe de Vie made using their grapes. But it’s still a family business. And sustainability is important to them, with rare-breed sheep to keep the grass down and wildflowers to attract insects.
How to visit: Poulton Hill run regular scheduled tastings at their cellar door. Guests get to try one sparkling and three still wines, and summer tours (June to mid-September) also include a visit to the vineyard. Tours cost £30 summer/£20 winter, with snacks available to buy.
Poulton Hill also host weekly Bulari Bar sessions at the vineyard on Fridays 5pm–9pm in summer, with wines by the bottle or glass and different pop-up food stalls. And you can rent a wing of a luxurious country house on the estate, with three en-suite bedrooms, a gym and tennis courts.
Poulton Hill Estate, Poulton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5JA
Dryhill, Cheltenham
Tucked away out of sight on the slopes of Crickley Hill near Cheltenham, Dryhill vineyard is a real hidden gem. This area was once the site of Roman villas, but now its limestone soils are perfect for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes to make Champagne-style wines.
Dryhill only produces small batches of their wines, with grapes planted, picked and pressed by hand before being aged in oak barrels. And the result is something really special, winning prizes at the Decanter and International Wine Challenge awards. You can choose from vintage Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Classic Cuvee sparkling wines, as well as a limited edition still rosé.
How to visit: Dryhill run tours and tastings by appointment for £50 per person. They’re led by vineyard owners Nigel and Lesley-Anne, with a vineyard tour followed by a blind tasting with local nibbles. Tastings are held either outdoors or in their Roman vaulted cellar.
You can also have a luxurious stay in the vineyard – either in the main house which sleeps 12, or in a glass-fronted cottage for four to six people, which makes the most of the panoramic views.
Dryhill Farm, Greenway Lane, Ullenwood, Cheltenham GL53 9QR
Little Oak Vineyard, Chipping Campden
Little Oak Vineyard lies on the edge of Chipping Campden. Owners Steve and Gemma Wilson didn’t make things easy for themselves by planting Siegerrebe first, an intense, aromatic white grape which is difficult to grow in the UK. But they were rewarded with a uniquely delicious wine.
Their original 300 vines have now grown to 1700, with Seyval Blanc being added along the way to make sparkling wine. Their bubbly is a rising star, ranked along the Top 50 Sparkling Wines in the world in 2020. And next in their sights is red wine, with 400 Divico vines recently planted.
How to visit: Tours and tastings at Little Oak Vineyard are normally available from Wednesday to Sunday and cost £30 per person. The tour lasts around 90 minutes and you get to try their Siegerrebe white wines, two sparkling wines and their Cotswold Gold Brandy.
Paxford Road, Chipping Campden GL55 6LA
Larkhill Vineyard, Tetbury
Larkhill near Tetbury is one of the newest Cotswolds vineyards. It was first planted in 2018 by Simon and Wendy Bond, armed with a passion for wine and lots of research. The vineyard now has 5200 vines spread over five acres, growing Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir and Phoenix grapes.
Larkhill produces a small but flavourful range of wines, with a traditional bottle-fermented Cotswold Sparkling white and rosé as well as the critically acclaimed still Tetbury Rosé and Tetbury White. At the moment you can only buy them on site, which is a great excuse for a visit.
How to visit: Larkhill Vineyard tours and tastings run between April and September, last 1½–2 hours and cost £33. After visiting the vineyard, you head to the tasting room to try two sparkling and two still wines, plus cheese and crudités. There are also Open Cellar Door afternoons and Summer Pop-Up evenings on Fridays for glasses of wine, Stroud Brewery beers and street food.
Cirencester Road, Ilsom, Tetbury GL8 8RX
Deer Park Wines, Eckington
Right in the north of the region at the foot of Bredon Hill, Deer Park Hall is a country house surrounded by 1400 aces of countryside with free-roaming roe and fallow deer. It’s also home to Deer Park Wines, a boutique winery producing red, white, rosé and sparkling Cotswold wines.
Their first vines were planted in 2016 and there are now over 5000, split between three sites. Their main vineyard is a real sun trap, meaning they’ve been able to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which normally struggle to ripen this far north, as well as Bacchus and Reichensteiner. The farm has a stunning setting, with views for miles, stretching out towards the Malvern Hills.
How to visit: Deer Park Wines run tours of their Stag Oak vineyard followed by a tasting of three still and one sparkling wine for £33. You can also add on a cheese and charcuterie platter. And they have three properties available to rent – Hollowcombe Cottage, The Granary and Vine Lodge.
Woollas Farm, Eckington, Worcestershire WR10 3DN
Bow in the Cloud Vineyard, Malmesbury
Family-run Bow in the Cloud is located on the outskirts of Malmesbury. It was started by Keith Willingale back in 1993, and his daughter Sophie runs the vineyard today. It’s a small-scale vineyard, with just three acres of Bacchus, Schonburger, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir vines.
Each year Bow in the Cloud produces 2000 bottles of white, rosé and sparkling wine. They’re usually snapped up locally but you can buy them online or at Stroud and Cirencester farmers’ markets. And with several WineGB awards recently, get in quick before the secret’s out.
How to visit: Bow in the Cloud offer tours on certain weekends throughout the year – check their website for latest dates. Tours cost £20 or £28.50 with a cheeseboard. They include a walk around the vineyard followed by a tasting (in an outdoor shelter so wrap up warm if it’s cold).
Noah’s Ark, Garsdon, Wiltshire SN16 9NS
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