Harvest at English Vineyards: Volunteer, Pick Grapes and Join In
The 2026 English grape harvest is over, but most vineyards that open it up to visitors do so every year. The volunteer days, tours, dinners and festivals below ran in 2026 and show what to look out for next September. Sign up below and we'll let you know as soon as 2027's events are announced.
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When Is the English Grape Harvest?
Most English vineyards pick between September and October, and the exact dates follow the ripeness of the grapes rather than the calendar. In 2026 the harvest started early after a long, dry summer, and some picking days were announced only days ahead.
Grape varieties ripen at different times, so a vineyard's harvest is spread over several weeks. Nine Oaks, for example, held picking days for its sparkling wine grapes on 12, 13 and 20 September, and finished with Chardonnay for still wine on 27 September.
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Volunteer for a Day at an English Vineyard Harvest
Picking grapes by hand for a morning or a day gets you closer to a vineyard than any tour. You work in the rows with the vineyard team, and no wine knowledge is needed.
Most volunteer days are free, and a few ask for a small contribution. Vineyards typically give training and refreshments, and most finish with lunch. Some send pickers home with a bottle: Velfrey in Pembrokeshire gave half-day pickers a bottle of its new red, Coch, and Woodchurch in Kent offered a bottle of estate wine. The Mount, also in Kent, starts its days with breakfast and ends them with a celebratory lunch and wine.
Several vineyards, including Dedham Vale, Abingworth, Dunesforde and Wildwood, called for volunteers in 2026 without fixed dates, because picking depended on when the grapes were ready. Places go quickly, and some vineyards do not advertise their harvest days online, so it is worth getting in touch early.
Paid Harvest Work
Some vineyards pay for help at harvest, by the hour or in wine. In 2026 Artelium ran a paid picking crew across two vineyards from 14 September to 5 October, Calancombe in Devon paid £13.50 an hour, and Shotley in Suffolk offered minimum wage or wine. Everflyht gave pickers a choice of hourly pay or bottles, and Beacon Down offered some paid picking alongside its volunteer days.
Picking days are often confirmed only a few days ahead, so flexibility helps. Spaces are limited, so contact the vineyard early in the season if you want to pick for a wage.
Harvest Tours, Tastings and Dinners
If you would rather watch than pick, many vineyards run ticketed experiences timed to harvest. Wiston Estate in Sussex ran behind-the-scenes winery tours, tasting everything from fresh grape juice to fermenting wine and barrel samples. Silverhand Estate in Kent paired a Land Rover tour of the vines with a winery visit and tasting, and Crouch Ridge in Essex offered a guided vineyard walk with a tasting and Sunday lunch.
Harvest dinners and lunches are the other main choice. Rathfinny in Sussex held a four-course harvest dinner in Flint Barns, Hambledon in Hampshire served a harvest tasting menu paired with its sparkling wines, and Gusbourne in Kent ran a winemaker's lunch with a preview of the 2026 vintage. These are ticketed, and the smaller ones sell out.
Harvest Festivals and Parties
Several vineyards mark the end of picking with a party. Woolton Farm in Kent held a family and dog-friendly harvest festival with live music and apple-pressing demonstrations, and Wraxall ran a harvest festival weekend with tours and tastings. Hambledon's harvest party included canapés, live music and tank and barrel samples. Prices and ticketing vary, so check each vineyard's page.
Planning a Harvest Visit
Harvest dates move with the weather, so vineyards often announce events at short notice. Book as soon as dates are published, and check the vineyard's own page for the latest. Picking is outdoor work, so wear sturdy shoes and clothes you do not mind getting wet or sticky.
Harvest also suits a longer trip. See our guides to vineyards with accommodation, vineyard restaurants and vineyards in autumn.
What Happened at Harvest 2026
These dates have passed, but vineyards run similar days each year, so they are a useful steer for next September.
Volunteer picking days
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Hanwell Wine Estate · Nottinghamshire
Grape harvest
A day of grape picking with the family-run vineyard, starting with a briefing at 9.30am or 10.30am and finishing between 3pm and 5pm. Drinks, snacks and a sandwich lunch are included, and volunteers aged 18 and over take home a bottle of wine. Days are capped at 20 volunteers.
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Beacon Down Vineyard · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
A confirmed volunteer grape-picking day in the vines at Beacon Down, with some paid picking opportunities on offer. Spaces are limited, so sign up in advance.
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The Mount Vineyard · Kent
Harvest Volunteer Day
Help pick grapes across The Mount's ten acres and eight grape varieties, starting with breakfast and finishing with a celebratory lunch and wine.
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Nine Oaks Vineyard · Kent
Harvest Picking Day: Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier for Sparkling
Join Nine Oaks for a day of hand-picking Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier destined for their sparkling wines, with full training, refreshments and a harvest lunch included.
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Beacon Down Vineyard · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
A confirmed volunteer grape-picking day in the vines at Beacon Down, with some paid picking opportunities on offer. Spaces are limited, so sign up in advance.
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Nine Oaks Vineyard · Kent
Harvest Picking Day: Chardonnay for Sparkling
Help bring in Nine Oaks' Chardonnay for sparkling wine, with full training, refreshments and a harvest lunch on site.
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Pebblebed Vineyards · Devon
Pebblebed Community Harvest
Help bring in Pebblebed's Rondo and Seyval Blanc grapes at Darts Farm's annual community harvest, with coffee, cake, a BBQ lunch and a glass of Pebblebed wine included.
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Woodchurch Wine Estate · Kent
Volunteer Harvest Day 2026
Spend a day hand-harvesting Chardonnay alongside Woodchurch's vineyard team, with full training, a complimentary lunch and a bottle of estate wine to take home.
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Kinsbrook Vineyard · West Sussex
Harvest Volunteering Day
A day of hands-on grape picking for volunteers, with hot drinks and pastries on arrival, a hot lunch and a glass of wine at midday, and a free bottle of still wine for anyone who stays the full day.
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Knotfield Vines · West Yorkshire
Harvest Festival
Knotfield Vines is hosting its first ever Harvest Festival, opening its gates to volunteers for a morning of grape-picking, with the first 50 arrivals getting a free glass of sparkling wine.
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Bluestone Vineyard · Wiltshire
Harvest Volunteer Weekend 2026
Join Bluestone's team for a hands-on day of hand-picking Pinot Noir and Meunier, with breakfast, lunch and a glass of wine included.
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Kinsbrook Vineyard · West Sussex
Harvest Volunteering Day
A day of hands-on grape picking for volunteers, with hot drinks and pastries on arrival, a hot lunch and a glass of wine at midday, and a free bottle of still wine for anyone who stays the full day.
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Nine Oaks Vineyard · Kent
Harvest Picking Day: Pinot Meunier for Sparkling Rosé
Lend a hand picking Pinot Meunier for Nine Oaks' sparkling rosé, with full training, refreshments and a harvest lunch included.
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Kinsbrook Vineyard · West Sussex
Harvest Volunteering Day
A day of hands-on grape picking for volunteers, with hot drinks and pastries on arrival, a hot lunch and a glass of wine at midday, and a free bottle of still wine for anyone who stays the full day.
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JoJo's Vineyard · Oxfordshire
Harvest Picking Days
Help pick grapes from 8.30am, aiming to finish around noon, for as little as an hour or two. Anyone staying afterwards gets burgers or sausages with a glass of wine for lunch.
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The Mount Vineyard · Kent
Harvest Volunteer Day
Help pick grapes across The Mount's ten acres and eight grape varieties, starting with breakfast and finishing with a celebratory lunch and wine.
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Giffords Hall Vineyard · Suffolk
Harvest Grape Picking at Giffords Hall
Giffords Hall is looking for extra hands to help pick grapes at its Lavenham vineyard as the 2026 harvest gets under way.
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Velfrey Vineyard · Pembrokeshire
Harvest Volunteer Picking Day
Help bring in the first pick of the 2026 harvest from 9am, with a light lunch provided. Half-day pickers take home a bottle of the new red, Coch, and full-day pickers a bottle of Velfrey NV too.
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St Hilary Vineyard · Vale of Glamorgan
Harvest 2026
Join the grape picking at St Hilary Vineyard's 2026 harvest, with a coffee break and light lunch provided.
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Roebuck Estates · West Sussex
Harvest Experience: Be Part of the Vintage
A hands-on harvest morning at Roebuck's Petworth vineyard, with coffee and an introduction to grape picking, then picking alongside the team and a celebratory glass. Free, from 10.30am to 1pm, but places must be reserved in advance.
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Greyfriars Vineyard · Surrey
Harvest Volunteer Day
A hand-picking harvest volunteer day at Monkshatch Winery, preserving Greyfriars' tradition of selecting fruit by hand for its limited-batch wines.
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Pebblebed Vineyards · Devon
Pebblebed Community Harvest
Help bring in Pebblebed's Rondo and Seyval Blanc grapes at Darts Farm's annual community harvest, with coffee, cake, a BBQ lunch and a glass of Pebblebed wine included.
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Greyfriars Vineyard · Surrey
Extra Harvest Volunteer Day
An additional hand-picking harvest volunteer day at Greyfriars Vineyard, Puttenham, for grapes destined for the estate's limited-batch wines.
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JoJo's Vineyard · Oxfordshire
Harvest Picking Day
Help pick grapes from 8.30am, aiming to finish around noon, for as little as an hour or two. Anyone staying afterwards gets burgers or sausages with a glass of wine for lunch.
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Nine Oaks Vineyard · Kent
Harvest Picking Day: Chardonnay for Still
Join the final push of Nine Oaks' 2026 harvest, picking Chardonnay destined for their still wine.
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Ham Street Wines · Kent
Harvest Volunteer Day
A free volunteer harvest day starting at 9am and lasting seven hours, with lunch included.
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Velfrey Vineyard · Pembrokeshire
Second Harvest Volunteer Picking Day
Join the second and final pick of Velfrey's 2026 harvest from 9am, with a light lunch provided. Pickers are rewarded with a bottle of Coch for a half day, plus a bottle of Velfrey NV for a full day.
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Ham Street Wines · Kent
Harvest Volunteer Day
A free volunteer harvest day starting at 9am and lasting seven hours, with lunch included.
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Sandridge Barton · Devon
Community Grape Picking
Join the community harvest for a morning of grape picking, with a barbecue lunch and a bottle of wine to take home included.
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JoJo's Vineyard · Oxfordshire
Harvest Picking Day
Help pick grapes from 8.30am, aiming to finish around noon, for as little as an hour or two. Anyone staying afterwards gets burgers or sausages with a glass of wine for lunch.
Previously held event
Wayfarer Wines · Kent
Harvest Volunteer Day at Highfield Farm, Woodchurch
Free volunteer picking day at Highfield Farm, Woodchurch. A 9am safety talk, pastries, tea and coffee start the day, with picking until a complimentary lunch at 1pm. Volunteers are invited back in spring to taste the wines they helped harvest.
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Wayfarer Wines · Kent
Harvest Volunteer Day at Pilgrims Way, Maidstone
Free volunteer picking day at Pilgrims Way, near Maidstone. A 9am safety talk, pastries, tea and coffee start the day, with picking until a complimentary lunch at 1pm. Volunteers are invited back in spring to taste the wines they helped harvest.
Paid picking work
Previously held event
Shotley Vineyard · Suffolk
Paid Harvest Team
A harvest team for around seven days of picking between late August and late September, mostly on weekdays, with short notice once the grapes are ready. No experience needed, and pay is minimum wage or wine.
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Burnt House Vineyard · Suffolk
Paid Harvest Pickers
Paid grape pickers for September and October, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, for over-18s. Picking days are only confirmed the week before, so flexibility helps.
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Everflyht · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
Join the Everflyht team for a day of grape picking during the 2026 harvest, with breaks and a hot lunch provided, plus a choice of hourly pay or bottles of wine as thanks.
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Everflyht · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
Join the Everflyht team for a day of grape picking during the 2026 harvest, with breaks and a hot lunch provided, plus a choice of hourly pay or bottles of wine as thanks.
Previously held event
Everflyht · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
Join the Everflyht team for a day of grape picking during the 2026 harvest, with breaks and a hot lunch provided, plus a choice of hourly pay or bottles of wine as thanks.
Previously held event
Everflyht · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
Join the Everflyht team for a day of grape picking during the 2026 harvest, with breaks and a hot lunch provided, plus a choice of hourly pay or bottles of wine as thanks.
Previously held event
Everflyht · East Sussex
Harvest Picking Day
Join the Everflyht team for a day of grape picking during the 2026 harvest, with breaks and a hot lunch provided, plus a choice of hourly pay or bottles of wine as thanks.
Previously held event
Artelium Wine Estate · East Sussex
Paid Harvest Picking Crew
A paid picking crew across the Madehurst and Streat vineyards. A minimum commitment of three days, with full training, and you need your own transport between sites.
Previously held event
Calancombe Estate · Devon
Paid Harvest Pickers
Energetic, reliable pickers wanted from mid September to mid or late October, paid £13.50 an hour plus pro rata holiday pay.
Tours, tastings, dinners and festivals
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Balfour Winery · Kent
Harvest Celebration
A festival at Balfour Winery with live music, pizza and BBQ, vineyard tours, tastings and a free shuttle from Marden station.
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Kinsbrook Vineyard · West Sussex
Harvest Festival 2026
A family harvest festival at Kinsbrook with harvest-themed games and live music, 11am - 6pm.
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Yotes Court · Kent
The Science of Harvest
Join the vineyard manager for a hands-on insight into harvest time. Learn the science behind winemaking decisions and witness the craft that shapes Yotes Court's award-winning wines.
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Roebuck Estates · West Sussex
Harvest Special: Feast in the Vines
A harvest edition of Roebuck's Feast in the Vines, with a Sussex-produce banquet paired with vintage sparkling wines followed by a guided vineyard tour during harvest.
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Heron Farm · Devon
Harvest Supper
A Harvest Supper marking Heron Farm's first harvest: a vineyard tour followed by a four-course set menu paired with Heron Farm wines.
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Hambledon Wine Estate · Hampshire
Harvest Tasting Menu
A four-course harvest tasting menu in the Restaurant, showcasing early-autumn produce paired with Hambledon's English sparkling wines, available while grapes are being picked.
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Nutbourne Vineyards · West Sussex
Harvest Farm Feast
Taste this year's new ferments before settling in for a five-course feast of local produce and Nutbourne wines, celebrating the start of harvest.
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High Clandon · Surrey
Vineyard at Harvest Open Day and Tours
Experience the vineyard at harvest time with our Open Day and tours. Drop in for free or pre-book our Tour, Talk and Tasting, and enquire about joining in the harvest itself in mid-October.
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Crouch Ridge Estate · Essex
Harvest Tour With Lunch
A guided vineyard walk through harvest season, followed by a tutored tasting of three Crouch Ridge wines and a two-course Sunday lunch.
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Digby Fine English · West Sussex
Harvest Celebration Party
A relaxed social evening at the Digby Wine Bar and Tasting Room in Arundel, from 7pm to 10pm, with insights from the blender on this year's harvest, live guitar and fizz. Entry is free, but space is limited so reserve ahead.
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Woolton Farm · Kent
Harvest Festival 2026
A family and dog-friendly harvest weekend at Woolton Farm, with live music, apple-pressing demonstrations, a biggest-vegetable competition, and ciders and craft beers on tap. Tickets are £5 in advance or £10 on the door, and under-18s go free but still need a ticket.
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Rathfinny Wine Estate · East Sussex
Harvest Tour and Dosage Tasting
A vineyard tour followed by your own dosage trial, adding different levels of sugar to a base wine, then a guided tasting of three Rathfinny wines. Runs for about 1 hour 45 minutes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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Wraxall Vineyard · Somerset
Seasonal Supper Club
Drinks and nibbles overlooking the vines, followed by a long-table sharing supper to open Wraxall's Harvest Festival Weekend.
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Silverhand Estate · Kent
Harvest Festival
A vineyard and winery tour by classic Land Rover, followed by a guided tasting of five award-winning wines, timed to the estate's harvest.
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Wraxall Vineyard · Somerset
Harvest Festival Weekend
A weekend celebrating harvest with BBQ, vineyard tours and tastings, pop-up fashion and homeware, a cocktail bar, face painting and DJ Vinyl Groove.
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Denbies Wine Estate · Surrey
Harvest Tour & Dinner
Follow the story of harvest at Denbies from vine to winery to table, finishing with dinner.
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Yotes Court · Kent
The Harvest Experience
A hands-on morning picking grapes alongside vineyard manager Tony Purdie and the team, from 10am to 2pm, followed by lunch and drinks. A once-a-year, single-date event that tends to sell out fast.
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Crouch Ridge Estate · Essex
Harvest Tour With Lunch
A guided vineyard walk through harvest season, followed by a tutored tasting of three Crouch Ridge wines and a two-course Sunday lunch.
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Wiston Estate · West Sussex
Behind the Scenes: Harvest Winery Tour
A behind-the-scenes winery tour during harvest, tasting straight from the cellar from fresh grape juice to fermenting wine and barrel samples, with an optional seasonal set lunch at Chalk.
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Wiston Estate · West Sussex
Behind the Scenes: Harvest Winery Tour
A behind-the-scenes winery tour during harvest, tasting straight from the cellar from fresh grape juice to fermenting wine and barrel samples, with an optional seasonal set lunch at Chalk.
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Lympstone Manor · Devon
Celebratory Harvest Lunch
A vineyard tour followed by an al fresco barbecue lunch hosted by chef Michael Caines, paired with Lympstone Manor's own estate wines.
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Sandridge Barton · Devon
Harvest Open Day Tour
Free morning and afternoon tours to watch the grape harvest being processed and taste fresh juice, with a barbecue and live music from 1pm to 3pm.
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High Clandon · Surrey
Vineyard at Harvest Open Day and Tours
Experience the vineyard at harvest time with our Open Day and tours. Drop in for free or pre-book our Tour, Talk and Tasting, and enquire about joining in the harvest itself in mid-October.
Previously held event
Blabers Hall Wine Estate · Warwickshire
Harvest Open Day & Craft Market 4th October 11-4pm
Take a wander around our stunning vineyard and sample our amazing wine.
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Ashling Park Estate · West Sussex
Harvest Vine & Dine
A five-course harvest supper at the vineyard from 7pm, with each course paired with Ashling Park's wines. A vegetarian menu is available on request.