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Things to do in Surrey
Hidden away among Surrey’s towns and villages – just an hour away from London – you’ll find an award-winning and picturesque collection of vineyards sprawling through the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
‘Vineyards of the Surrey Hills’ is a collaboration between Albury Organic Vineyard, Chilworth Manor Vineyard, Denbies Wine Estate, Greyfriars Vineyard and High Clandon, who produce outstanding wines from the rolling North Downs.
Nurtured on chalky lime and sandstone hills, with the same geology as that of the Champagne region in France, Surrey’s vineyards are part of the increasingly-successful English wine industry, having won top international and national awards for their wines and wine tourism.
With only about 20 miles separating Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking and Greyfriars Vineyard between Guildford and Farnham, the Surrey Hills wine route is an intimate and accessible trail to explore – and a holiday at home for anyone who lives in Surrey.
Here we shine a spotlight on each of the vineyards, as well as a few top reasons to visit – make sure to check opening times and days before visiting, as each vineyard has its own unique offering.
Pictured: The view from Denbies Wine Estate’s Vineyard Restaurant.
With some 265 acres currently under vine, Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking is the largest of the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills – and one of the biggest single estate vineyards in England too.
It’s the perfect base to explore the Surrey Hills wine route as it’s home to a vineyard hotel, two restaurants and daily food and wine tasting options and tours, with Village Greens Farm Shop, Surrey Hills Brewery, Chimney Fire Coffee, Surrey Hills Physiotherapy and Pilates Centre and Just Pedal on site too.
Denbies Wine Estate is open every single day of the year (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day!).
Pictured: High Clandon Estate Vineyard, best-known for its Art & Sculpture celebrations every summer.
Founded in 2004 by Sibylla and Bruce Tindale, High Clandon’s cuvées are elegant aged-vintage English sparkling wines created in the Classic Method (Méthode Champenoise) with at least five years bottle maturation before release.
Famous for their Art & Sculpture in the Vineyard events every summer, High Clandon also hosts monthly open days throughout the warmer months of the year and private tours for groups of at least four people.
High Clandon’s stunning Glass Barn, which has views over the gardens towards London, is also available to hire.
Albury Vineyard is one of the only vineyards in the UK to follow biodynamic principles, and they believe that organic viticulture produces better quality fruit and ultimately better quality wine.
The patio and tasting room at Albury are the perfect places to enjoy English cheese and charcuterie boards with a glass or two of Albury wine – or maybe even one of their Surrey Hills negronis, which includes their own vermouth.
Albury host numerous events throughout the year, including tours and tasting, supper clubs, wine festivals and even festive workshops during the Christmas season.
The youngest of the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, Chilworth Manor Vineyard was established in 2013 with the expert help of renowned wine consultant, Stephen Skelton.
Found on the slopes below the iconic St Martha’s Hill church and above the village of Chilworth, Chilworth Manor also opens for National Garden Scheme opening days.
In 2024, they are planning to launch a brand-new tasting barn, which will have views over their vineyards and up into the North Downs.
Pictured: A busy day in the tasting room at Greyfriars Vineyard.
The original Greyfriars Vineyard was planted in 1989 but, since taking over in 2010, Mike and Hilary Wagstaff have expanded the area under vine to almost 50 acres across two site and build a state-of-the-art winery and chalk cave.
During the summer months, guests enjoy tours, tastings, pop-up restaurants and wine bars out in the vineyard, while in the winter the Tasting Room and Cellar Door Shop come into their own and the tours head into the state-of-the-art winery.
With award-winning English wines being released throughout the year and each vineyard hosting its own unique and seasonal events, there’s always something new to discover on the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills wine route.
Learn more about the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills and their upcoming events at www.surreyhillsvineyards.co.uk
