A Guide to Exploring Vineyards from Shere
Shere is a picture-perfect Surrey village tucked into the Surrey Hills, with a historic church, a village green, and narrow lanes framed by wooded hills. It’s small and walkable, but unusually well placed for vineyard visits, sitting close to several of Surrey’s best-known wine producers and offering one of the rare opportunities to walk directly from village centre to a working vineyard.
Set within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Shere feels deliberately unspoilt. The village is compact, centred around a green and a medieval church, with pubs, cafés, and footpaths radiating into the surrounding countryside. It’s long been popular with walkers and cyclists, and that same landscape now supports some of Surrey’s most established vineyards.
What makes Shere particularly appealing as a vineyard base is proximity. Several well-regarded estates sit within a short drive, and one — Albury Organic Vineyard — can be reached on foot from the village. This creates a relaxed rhythm that suits slower weekends: walking, tasting, and returning to the village without needing to plan tightly around transport.
Best times to visit
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Spring (April–May): One of the best times to visit. Woodland and hillsides come into leaf, vineyard tours restart for the season, and walking routes are at their most appealing.
Summer (June–August): Peak season in the village, particularly at weekends. Vineyards operate full tasting schedules, and long evenings suit combining walks with wine visits.
Autumn (September–October): Harvest season brings extra interest at nearby vineyards, while cooler weather makes longer Surrey Hills walks more comfortable.
Winter (November–March): Quieter overall, with reduced vineyard schedules, but still appealing for countryside walks, cosy pubs, and occasional cellar-door tastings.
Vineyards to visit from Shere
The vineyards near Shere
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Shere sits within a dense cluster of Surrey vineyards, most reachable within 10–25 minutes by car.
Albury Organic Vineyard
One of Surrey’s most distinctive vineyards, producing organic still wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varieties. Albury Organic is walkable from Shere village (around 40–45 minutes), partly along an A-road, making it one of the few places where a vineyard visit can be combined with a direct village walk.
Denbies Wine Estate
England’s largest single vineyard and one of the most developed visitor destinations, offering guided tours, tastings, a restaurant, shop, and extensive walking routes through the vines.
High Clandon
A premium English sparkling wine producer offering refined tasting experiences and a focus on traditional-method wines.
Greyfriars Vineyard
A long-established Surrey producer best known for traditional-method sparkling wines, with tastings and tours available seasonally.
Chilworth Manor Vineyard
A smaller vineyard set in historic grounds, producing English wines with limited but welcoming visitor opportunities.
Map
What else is there to do in Shere?
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- Walk the network of footpaths through the Surrey Hills directly from the village.
- Visit St James’s Church and explore the historic village centre.
- Enjoy classic pub lunches and tearooms around the green.
- Use Shere as a base for exploring nearby villages such as Abinger Hammer and Gomshall.
Where to eat and drink in Shere
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Shere’s food scene is small but well suited to relaxed weekends.
- Casual: Tearooms and cafés clustered around the village green.
- Mid-range: Traditional pubs serving seasonal British food.
- Wine-led: Country pubs and restaurants in surrounding villages often stock Surrey wines.
Where to stay
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- Characterful B&Bs and small guesthouses in and around the village.
- Country inns with rooms in neighbouring Surrey Hills villages.
- Hotels near Dorking or Guildford for a wider range of options.
More locations for a vineyard break
Alfriston
Vibe: Village, South Downs, Walking