English Wine Festivals: The Main Annual Festivals to Visit
English wine festivals put several producers in one place for a day of tastings, food and live music. Most run once a year, often in June, and many are put on by groups of neighbouring vineyards. This guide lists the main annual festivals, when each is usually held and what to expect.
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What Is an English Wine Festival?
An English wine festival puts several producers in one place, so you can taste a range of wines in a single visit instead of travelling from vineyard to vineyard. Many are run by groups of neighbouring vineyards. The Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest has been hosted at a different member vineyard each year, with tastings, food, masterclasses and tours across the day, and the Wine Garden of England has brought nine Kent producers together for a festival of its own.
They are different from English Wine Week, the nine-day national celebration each June that is made up of many separate vineyard events. A wine festival is usually a single day or weekend, with one ticket and one venue.
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Wine Festivals in Hampshire
Hampshire has two annual festivals run by Vineyards of Hampshire, a group whose members include Black Chalk, Danebury, Exton Park, The Grange, Hambledon, Hattingley Valley and Raimes.
Fizz Fest is the summer celebration, held in June, and eight producers have poured their wines there. Festive Fizz has been held in late November at Guildhall Winchester, with a tasting of one wine from each of eight vineyards, festive food and Christmas wine gifts.
Wine Festivals in Kent
The Wine Garden of England Summer Celebration is a day of free tastings from nine Kent producers: Balfour, Biddenden, Chapel Down, Gusbourne, Simpsons, Squerryes, Westwell, Domaine Evremond and Yotes Court.
Visitors collect a book of tasting vouchers, and a ticket has included a tasting glass to take home. The festival has been held at castle venues, including Chilham Castle and, in its fifth year, The Castle at Westenhanger, which is an eight-minute walk from Westenhanger station on the London to Dover line.
Wine Festivals in Dorset, Surrey and Yorkshire
The South Coast Wine Festival fills the grounds of Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch, Dorset, for a weekend each August. It has offered more than 300 wines from over 30 exhibitors, a two-hour tasting session inside the castle, and food vendors, artisan traders and live entertainment in the grounds.
Chilworth Manor Vineyard in Surrey has run its own wine festival in June, an afternoon and evening of live music, food, ice cream, lawn games, a children's trail and a silent disco. In North Yorkshire, Yorkshire Heart has held the Great Yorkshire Wine & Fizz Festival among its vines, a full day of Yorkshire wine, fizz, food and live music.
How to Choose an English Wine Festival
Start with the format. A festival run by a group of vineyards, like Fizz Fest or the Wine Garden of England, lets you meet several producers from one county. A festival at a single vineyard, like Chilworth or Yorkshire Heart, adds the setting of the estate itself. The South Coast Wine Festival runs over a whole weekend, with a much larger line-up of exhibitors.
Check how the tasting works. Some festivals sell a timed tasting session with entry, and others give you a book of vouchers to spend with each producer. Early-bird tickets have gone on sale months ahead, so it pays to book as soon as dates are announced. For a festival at a castle or country estate, look at the nearest station before you go.
Annual English Wine Festivals
Each festival shows its next dates once they are announced. Until then you will see when it was last held and the month it usually takes place.
Wine festivals in December
Vineyards of Hampshire · Hampshire
Vineyards of Hampshire Festive Fizz
Taste wines from Hampshire vineyards at the Vineyards of Hampshire Christmas showcase, a chance to find bottles for Christmas entertaining.
Wine festivals in June
Last held Sat 6 June 2026 · usually June
Wine Garden of England · Kent
Wine Garden of England Summer Celebration
Free tastings from nine Kent producers using a book of vouchers, with live music and food traders at The Castle, Westenhanger. Tickets include a Riedel tasting glass.
Last held Sat 20 June 2026 · usually June
Chilworth Manor Vineyard · Surrey
Chilworth Wine Festival
Chilworth's Wine Festival returns during English Wine Week, running 3 - 9pm with live music, food, ice cream, a children's trail, lawn games and a silent disco in the final hour. Ticket includes a glass of fizz on entry.
Last held Sat 27 June 2026 · usually June
Yorkshire Heart Vineyard · North Yorkshire
Great Yorkshire Wine & Fizz Festival
A full-day celebration of Yorkshire wine, fizz, food and live music among 29,000 vines at Yorkshire Heart. Ticket includes festival entry, a branded tasting glass, guided tastings and live music.
Last held Sun 28 June 2026 · usually June
Hambledon Wine Estate · Hampshire
Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest
Taste over 20 English sparkling and still wines from Hampshire's eight premier vineyards, enjoy brunch and lunch dining, masterclasses, vineyard tours, local street food and live music.
Wine festivals in August
South Coast Wine Festival · Dorset
South Coast Wine Festival
More than 300 wines from over 30 exhibitors at Highcliffe Castle, with a two-hour tasting session inside the castle, food vendors and live entertainment.