What are the best regions for wine tasting in the UK?

Sussex and Kent are renowned for their sparkling wines, particularly those made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Hampshire also produces notable sparkling wines, while Essex and Herefordshire are gaining recognition for their still wines, especially Bacchus.

When is the best time to visit the UK’s wine regions?

The ideal time to visit is during the late summer and early autumn months, particularly September and October, when the grape harvest occurs. This is when vineyards often host events and tastings.

What are some signature wines to try in the UK?

Visitors should sample English sparkling wines, especially those from Sussex and Kent, as well as still wines made from Bacchus and Rondo. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-based wines also showcase the region's capabilities.

How can I get around the UK wine regions?

Public transport options include trains and buses connecting major towns and vineyards, but renting a car offers greater flexibility to explore remote wineries. Many vineyards also provide guided tours that include transportation.

What makes the UK’s wine country unique?

The UK's cool climate and diverse soils contribute to the distinct character of its wines, allowing for the cultivation of both traditional grape varieties and innovative hybrids. The combination of maritime influences and chalky soils enhances the quality of sparkling wines.

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Winery hotels & vineyard stays in UK

Browse 1 winery hotels and vineyard stays in UK — from wineries with lodging and boutique vineyard inns to luxury wine resorts, with cellar-door wine tasting, vineyard tours and wine-country escapes across its wine regions.

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Glamping
4.7(230 reviews)
Secret Valley Glamping
Quantock Hills, UK
Wine tastingWine tasting
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$80/night

The UK wine guide

A traveller's field guide to UK's wine country

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grown on the chalk and greensand soils of Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire form the backbone of English sparkling wine — a style that has drawn serious investment and international attention in recent decades. Warmer, drier summers across Southern England have expanded what is possible, with Bacchus delivering aromatic still whites and Rondo adding structure to reds in counties like Essex and Herefordshire.

Staying among English vineyards means mornings in converted farmhouses or manor estates, often within sight of the vines themselves. Surrey and Kent offer country house hotels a short drive from working wineries, while Sussex combines South Downs walking country with cellar-door tastings at estates producing vintage sparkling wines. The pace is unhurried, the landscapes quietly dramatic, and the connection between kitchen and vineyard genuinely close.

6: wine regions
6: key varieties
5 red · 1 white: grape mix

Wine regions

Where the wine is grown

Select a region to explore its terroir, altitude and signature grapes — the building blocks of UK's wines.

Sussex

Chalk and clay soils stretching from the South Downs to the coast give Sussex Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier the mineral backbone that has quietly defined the region's sparkling wine identity since the 1990s.

Sussex has a growing reputation for high-quality sparkling wine production since the 1990s.

Altitude

0–300 m

Climate & soils

cool maritime with mild winters and warm summers · chalk and clay

Signature grapes

ChardonnayPinot NoirPinot Meunier

Key appellations

SussexBrighton and HoveWest SussexEast SussexSouth Downs

fish and chips, Sussex cheese, roast lamb

Grape varieties

The grapes to know

How UK's signature varieties express themselves here. Tap any grape to see where it's grown.

Traditions & terroir

What makes UK unmistakable

English Sparkling Wine

The UK has gained recognition for its high-quality sparkling wines, particularly from regions like Sussex and Kent, showcasing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

Cool Climate Varietals

Grapes like Bacchus and Ortega thrive in the UK’s cooler climate, allowing for unique flavor profiles that reflect the distinct terroir of Southern England.