The big news this week is that
Nyetimber (
visit website) has won two major awards at the International Wine Challenge 2025. Sparkling Winemaker of the Year went to their Head Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs - her second win - while the award for Champion Sparkling Wine. This marks the very first time the award has been held by a wine produced outside of champagne. The winning wine was their Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum. Here’s to many more English Sparkling wins in the future!
If you have vineyard news you’d like included,
email me at info@vinebound.co.uk.
Elsewhere there is plenty going on:
Events
North Yorkshire
Dunesforde Vineyard (
visit website)
"The Dunesforde Sessions" live music festival kicks off this October in their Cellar Bar. Final ticket remain for an evening with Liam Gray on Friday, October 3rd, covering rock and pop hits, vocalist Daniella on Friday, October 17th, and country and folk artist Nell King, on Friday, October 24th. Each evening costs £24 and includes a small platter.
Rutland
Mallard Point (
visit website)
Get ready to celebrate the 2025 Vintage at Mallard Point's
Grape Grazing Festival on Saturday, September 13th, from 2 pm to 8 pm. You can wander through the vines, enjoy their 2024 Vintage wines, gins & vodka from the Tipi Bar, delicious pizzas from Amo La Pizza, and live music from Emergency Room. Tickets are £15 for adults (includes first drink), £5 for 5-17 year olds (includes first drink), and under 5s go free. Well-behaved dogs on leads are also welcome!
Suffolk
Burnt House Vineyard (
visit website)
Join Burnt House for an
English Sparkling Wine Tasting on Saturday, September 27th, from 6 pm to 9 pm. Expert Ed Keith will guide you through five English Sparkling Wines, followed by a local grazing board. Tickets are £55 per person.
Harvest volunteering & experiences
Essex
Dedham Vale Vineyard (
visit website)
Looking for a hands-on experience? Dedham Vale Vineyard's Manager, Michael, is looking for harvest volunteers on Tuesday, September 16th, from 8:30 am to 1 pm. In return for your help, you'll receive two bottles of wine, a harvest lunch, and the satisfaction of being part of the 2025 vintage! Email
mb@dedhamvalevineyard.com to get involved.
Norfolk
Winbirri (
visit website)
From Thursday 25th - Monday 29th Winbirri hosts its Open Public Harvest Experience. The day starts at 9am prompt with a briefing, before you begin picking their Bacchus grapes. Egg & bacon rolls will get you refueled for more picking, and then at 5pm you’ll head to the winery for an exploration of the winemaking process, before a celebratory feast and glass of one of their 2024 wines. Email
info@winbirri.com letting them know your preferred days and group size to reserve your place.
North Yorkshire
Dunesforde Vineyard (
visit website)
Dunesforde are looking for volunteers to help with picking on various dates throughout September and October. If you sign up, you'll start at 8 am, get a mid-morning tea break, and finish with a delicious lunch and some fine Dunesforde wines around 1:30 pm.
Dorset
Langham Wine Estate (
visit website)
Experience the harvest first-hand at Langham's annual
Harvest Supper on Friday, October 10th, at 6:30 pm (£67.50pp). The evening begins with a glass of Culver Classic Cuvée and canapés, followed by a 45-minute tour to watch the harvesting in action (guided by fire pits and tractor light!). Then, enjoy a sparkling Pinot Noir tasting, seasonal autumnal sharing platters, and live music in their heated barn.
Sussex
Wiston Estate (
visit website)
It's harvest time at Wiston Estate, and they need your help! You can join their
Grape Picking Days, starting at 9 am. Your hard work will be fuelled by hot drinks, cake, a hearty lunch, and of course, a glass or two of Wiston wine!
To celebrate the 2025 harvest, Wiston is also hosting a
Harvest Winemaker Dinner at Chalk on October 23rd. Enjoy a seasonal 3-course dinner crafted by Head Chef Jordon, perfectly paired with Wiston wines, and hear insights from Winemaker Marcus Rayner-Ward.
Winter vineyard and winery tour schedules released
Cornwall
Polgoon (
visit website)
Polgoon is launching its
Winter Wine Tastings, available at 3 pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this winter. You can choose between a guided tasting of five award-winning wines (£20pp) or a self-guided tasting of three wines (£12.50pp), both including food pairings and a behind-the-scenes look at their winemaking.
Norfolk
Flint Vineyard (
visit website)
Flint Vineyard will take a break for harvest in October and then return with their winter tour programme from November. Plus, they're introducing a new winter food offering, including warming small plates and a Sunday roast by Chef Alex Firman and his team - perfect for adding to your tour or just dropping in.
Bedfordshire
Hungerhill Vineyard (
visit website)
Hungerhill is bringing back its popular
Winter Wine Tastings from late October. While the vineyard takes a winter break, you'll get an in-depth winery tour, a chance to sample upcoming new vintages, and a Q&A with their winemaker. Afterwards, head to the tasting room for still and upcoming sparkling wines, each perfectly paired with amuse-bouches. More dates for early 2026 will be announced in November.
East Sussex
Rathfinny Wine Estate (
visit website)
Rathfinny has two exciting restaurant takeovers happening! The final tickets are available for the
City Social Takeover on Saturday, October 11th, where Executive Chef Paul Walsh brings a 5-course British fine dining menu. Then, on Thursday, October 16th, Kioku by Endo will host a
Harvest Takeover featuring a 7-course Japanese lunch. You even have the chance to get involved with some grape picking before the Kioku by Endo lunch!
Promotions and product releases
Kent
Chapel Down (
visit website)
Chapel Down is currently celebrating the wines from their finest vineyard, Kit's Coty, throughout September. Discover their luxury, multi-award-winning collection, including the Coeur de Cuvée 2016, Blanc de Blancs 2019, and the last remaining bottles of their limited edition 2014 vintage.
Sussex
Roebuck Estates (
visit website)
Celebrate the launch of Roebuck Estates'
Classic Cuvée 2019! This elegant sparkling wine has notes of baked apples, ripe citrus, biscuity richness, and a hint of sweet spice. To mark the occasion, use code
CLASSIC19 for 10% off your order until September 30th, 2025 (excludes subscriptions and events).
East Sussex
Rathfinny Wine Estate (
visit website)
Elevate your home dining with Rathfinny's specially priced
Celebration Case. It features four bottles of their expressive 2019 Rosé BRUT (a natural match for sushi and sashimi!) alongside two bottles of their 2019 Classic Cuvée, with complimentary delivery included.
News
Kent
Chapel Down (
visit website)
Exciting news from Chapel Down with the release of their new
Kit's Coty Chardonnay 2023 vintage! Crafted from the best Chardonnay parcels from their esteemed Kit's Coty single-vineyard site, this wine is widely considered one of England's finest still wines, with previous vintages earning multiple awards.
Dorset
Langham Wine Estate (
visit website)
Langham has released new 2022 base vintage editions of their
Corallian and Culver Classic Cuvées. Corallian offers juicy lemon and blood orange notes with a bright sea-spray character, while Culver is full of heady cherry and raspberry with a lifted finish of kumquat and papaya.
