Vineyards with Award Winning Wine (IWSC 2026)

Vineyards winning awards for their wine share one obvious trait: they're producing some of the highest-quality bottles in the country. That recognition reflects what's in the glass, not necessarily the scale of the estate or the style of the visitor experience.

Some award-winning vineyards have polished facilities, restaurants, hotels and structured tour programmes. Others are smaller, more rural operations where visits are appointment-based and the focus is squarely on tasting and buying the wine. A medal tells you about quality - not about whether you'll find a terrace bar or a three-course lunch.

What they do have in common is a serious approach to winemaking. If your priority is tasting wines that have performed strongly in blind competition, these estates are a reliable starting point. From there, you can decide whether you want a full-day destination experience or something quieter and more low-key.

Please note: A medal-winning wine isn't always the one poured on a standard tour or tasting. Some are limited releases, older vintages or single-vineyard bottlings. If you're hoping to taste a specific award-winning wine, check with the vineyard before you book.

This guide focuses only on vineyards you can visit. If you'd like to explore every 2026 medal-winning wine, you can browse the full results on the official IWSC website.

Gold medals are awarded to wines scoring 95 or more points in blind tasting. Five wines from four vineyards reached that mark in 2026 - two of them scoring 96 points.

• Hambledon Wine Estate (Hampshire)
  • Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (96)
• Langham Wine Estate (Dorset)
  • Perpetual Chardonnay 2nd Edition Brut Nature NV (96)
• Chapel Down (Kent)
  • Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs Brut 2019 (96)
  • Grand Reserve Brut 2019 (95)
• Black Chalk Wine (Hampshire)
  • Eighty Nine Point Six Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 (95)

Chapel Down

Chapel Down is one of the best wine-and-lunch visits in the county, with The Swan restaurant set on the estate. Tours run throughout the year, there's a seasonal outdoor tasting setup in warmer months, and the cellar door is open year-round.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 gold | 2 bronze

• Gold - Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs Brut 2019 (96)
• Gold - Grand Reserve Brut 2019 (95)
• Bronze - Kit's Coty Coeur de Cuvée 2016 (89)
• Bronze - Brut NV (89)

Gusbourne

Gusbourne's Nest tasting room is the hub for visits, with structured tours and a self-guided vineyard walk for those who prefer to explore at their own pace. It's a considered, grown-up experience with the wines themselves firmly at the centre.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 1 bronze

• Silver - Boot Hill Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 (90)
• Bronze - Reserve Brut 2022 (87)

Balfour Winery

Balfour is well set up for an extended visit: The Winemakers' Kitchen restaurant is on site, and there's a free self-guided vineyard walk for anyone who wants to explore between tastings. Dogs are welcome on the walk itself.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 silver | 8 bronze

• Silver - Blanc de Noirs Brut 2018 (Magnum) (90)
• Silver - Cuvée Owen Erland Elias Brut 2020 (90)
• Bronze - Rosé Brut 2020 (88)
• Bronze - Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (88)
• Bronze - Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2018 (Magnum) (88)
• Bronze - Leslie's Brut NV (Magnum) (88)
• Bronze - Lukes Pinot Noir 2024 (87)
• Bronze - Winemakers Collection Chardonnay 76 2022 (87)
• Bronze - Leslie's Brut NV (87)
• Bronze - Signature Pinot Noir 2022 (86)

Penn Oast Vineyard

A small Kent producer whose Manor Lane Hare's Embrace Rosé scored 94 points in 2026 - one of the highest Silver scores in this year's results. Contact the vineyard directly for current visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Manor Lane Hare's Embrace Rosé 2025 (94)

Ridgeview

One of English sparkling wine's longer-established names, Ridgeview has a tasting room and cellar door at its East Sussex estate. Tours are available; check the website for current scheduling.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 1 bronze

• Silver - Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 (91)
• Bronze - Bloomsbury Brut NV (86)

Biddenden Vineyards

One of England's oldest commercial vineyards, Biddenden has a well-established visitor set-up with a cellar door, guided tours and an on-site shop. It's one of the better places in Kent to try still wines made from less common varieties like Ortega and Schönburger.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 bronze

• Bronze - Ortega 2024 (88)
• Bronze - Schönburger 2025 (87)

Yotes Court Vineyard

A small family estate near Mereworth producing both sparkling and still wines, including a medal-winning Bacchus. Visits are typically by appointment - contact the vineyard before you plan a trip.

IWSC 2026 medals: 3 bronze

• Bronze - Benie des Dieux Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 (89)
• Bronze - Chacun Pour Soi Blanc de Noirs Brut 2020 (88)
• Bronze - On the Nod Bacchus 2023 (86)

Heppington Vineyard

A small vineyard near Canterbury producing traditional method sparkling wine. Contact the estate directly for current visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Blanc de Blancs Brut 2019 (88)

The Uncommon

The Uncommon grows its grapes in Kent and is best known for putting English wine into cans - a format that has helped bring the category to a wider audience. Check with them directly for any vineyard visit or tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 bronze

• Bronze - Tempting Fete Rosé 2025 (89)
• Bronze - High Tease 2025 (88)

Hampshire was the standout county in the 2026 competition. Two Gold medals were awarded to Hampshire vineyards - and Black Chalk Wine took four Silvers alongside its Gold, making it one of the most decorated estates in this year's results.

Hambledon Wine Estate

Hambledon sits in a chalk valley near Waterlooville and is one of the most complete visitor experiences in Hampshire: guided tours, a tasting room and a shop stocked with the full range. The estate has one of England's longest histories, with vines first planted on the site in the 1950s.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 gold | 1 silver | 1 bronze

• Gold - Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (96)
• Silver - Classic Cuvée Brut NV (Magnum) (91)
• Bronze - Première Cuvée Brut NV (89)

Hattingley Valley Wines

Hattingley has flagged wheelchair accessibility for visitors with mobility requirements (call ahead to arrange). Its wines are confirmed suitable for vegans across the range. Tours and winery visits are available alongside standard tastings.

IWSC 2026 medals: 3 silver

• Silver - Blanc de Blancs Brut 2019 (93)
• Silver - Rosé Brut 2022 (92)
• Silver - Classic Reserve Brut NV (91)

Black Chalk Wine

Black Chalk's approach to visits is low-key: buy wine on site, bring a picnic and settle in at your own pace. There's no restaurant or structured tour programme - just space to enjoy wines that scored very well in blind competition.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 gold | 4 silver | 2 bronze

• Gold - Eighty Nine Point Six Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 (95)
• Silver - Paragon Brut 2022 (92)
• Silver - Classic Brut 2022 (91)
• Silver - Inversion Brut 2022 (91)
• Silver - Wild Rosé Brut 2022 (90)
• Bronze - Hide Extra Brut 2021 (87)
• Bronze - Rumour Has It 2024 (85)

Chalkdown Wine

A Hampshire producer focused on traditional method sparkling wine. Contact the estate directly for current visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 1 bronze

• Silver - Classic Cuvée Brut NV (90)
• Bronze - Rosé Brut NV (85)

Foxford Vineyard

A Hampshire sparkling wine producer with a Silver medal for their Classic 22 Brut. Contact the vineyard directly for current visitor options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Classic 22 Brut 2022 (91)

East Sussex

Beacon Down

Beacon Down is a family estate that welcomes children on tours at no extra charge - useful if you're visiting with a mixed group. Tours and tastings are available; check ahead for current scheduling.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Blanc de Blancs Brut 2018 (93)

Busi Jacobsohn Wine Estate

A small, family-run estate where visits are by appointment. Families with children are explicitly welcome - worth calling ahead to arrange a visit rather than turning up on the day.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Cuvée Brut 2021 (91)

Henners

Henners is a focused estate near Herstmonceux with a range spanning traditional method sparkling and still Bacchus. Tours and tastings are available; check the website for current options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Henners Rosé Brut NV (92)
• Bronze - Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2020 (89)
• Bronze - Gardner Street Classic Bacchus 2023 (86)

Everflyht

A newer East Sussex sparkling wine producer. Check directly with the vineyard for current visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Cuvée Edition 3 Brut NV (88)

West Sussex

Roebuck Estates

Roebuck is well set up for a full visitor experience: public and private tours, a tasting room with bar, self-guided walks and a programme of special events. A good pick if you want sparkling wine alongside a more structured day out.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 bronze

• Bronze - Classic Cuvée Brut 2020 (89)
• Bronze - Rosé de Noirs Extra Brut 2020 (88)

Abingworth Vineyard

A West Sussex estate growing Pinot Gris alongside more typical English varieties. Contact the vineyard directly for current visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Guiding Light Pinot Gris 2024 (88)

Kinsbrook Vineyard

A small family vineyard in West Sussex producing still Bacchus and Chardonnay. Contact the estate directly for tour and tasting availability.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 bronze

• Bronze - Kin Bacchus 2023 (87)
• Bronze - Kin Chardonnay 2023 (86)

Sussex

Mousehall Estate

Mousehall is one of the better choices in Sussex if you want to make a stay of it: accommodation is available on site. The estate produces an impressive range of still wines, with its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir both scoring well in 2026.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Tidebrook Staddle Stone Chardonnay 2023 (94)
• Silver - Tidebrook The Tipping Point Pinot Noir 2024 (93)
• Bronze - Tidebrook Staddle Stone Chardonnay 2024 (88)
• Bronze - Tidebrook Medieval Monk Pinot Gris 2023 (87)

Oastbrook Estate

A Sussex sparkling wine producer. Contact the estate directly for current visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Cuvée Brut 2018 (89)

Dorset

Langham Wine Estate

Langham is one of the more family-inclusive visits in the South West: children join guided tours free of charge, buggies are welcome in the vineyard, and there's a café and barn space for visitors. It's also one of the most consistently decorated producers in the IWSC results year on year.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 gold | 3 silver | 1 bronze

• Gold - Perpetual Chardonnay 2nd Edition Brut Nature NV (96)
• Silver - Culver Classic Cuvée Extra Brut NV (91)
• Silver - Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV (91)
• Silver - Rosé Extra Brut NV (90)
• Bronze - Corallian Classic Cuvée Extra Brut NV (89)

English Oak Vineyard

English Oak entered three wines and took Silver medals for all three - a strong showing for a Dorset producer that remains less well-known than some of its neighbours. Contact the vineyard directly for current visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 3 silver

• Silver - San Gabriel Blanc de Blancs Brut 2019 (94)
• Silver - Quercus Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 (91)
• Silver - Royal Blanc de Noirs Brut 2021 (91)

Sandridge Barton

Sandridge Barton suits a longer trip: there's an on-site restaurant with a terrace, and a range of self-catering accommodation from group stays to more private options. It's the sort of place where a tasting can easily turn into a weekend.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2020 (93)

Furleigh Estate

A Dorset estate producing traditional method sparkling wine. Tours and tastings are available; check the website for current scheduling and booking.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 bronze

• Bronze - Special Reserve Brut NV (89)
• Bronze - Classic Cuvée Brut 2019 (88)

Devon

Lyme Bay Winery

Lyme Bay is worth visiting if you're interested in still wine alongside sparkling: their range covers Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé, which is broader than most English producers. Families with children are welcome.

IWSC 2026 medals: 2 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Pinot Noir 2024 (91)
• Silver - Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (90)
• Bronze - Bacchus Block 2025 (86)
• Bronze - Shoreline Rosé 2025 (85)

Surrey

Denbies Wine Estate

Denbies is one of the most complete all-in-one vineyard days out in the South East: multiple dining options, a vineyard hotel and a well-worn path from Dorking station to the estate gate. For visitors without a car it's among the easiest options on this list.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Cubitt Blancs de Blancs Brut 2017 (94)

Greyfriars Vineyard

Greyfriars keeps its visit format simple and accessible: free self-guided tours with printed maps, a cellar door shop and space to open a bottle and sit down. In summer, a Horsebox Bar opens on Saturdays.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Rosé Reserve Brut 2022 (91)
• Bronze - Blanc de Blancs Brut 2016 (89)
• Bronze - Cuvée Brut NV (86)

Buckinghamshire

Harrow & Hope

Harrow and Hope's vineyard sits above the Thames near Marlow. Tastings and tours are available, though it leans towards the more intimate end - worth checking ahead for scheduling. Three wines took Silver medals in 2026, making it one of the stronger performers outside the main sparkling counties.

IWSC 2026 medals: 3 silver | 1 bronze

• Silver - Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 (93)
• Silver - Blanc de Noirs Brut 2020 (93)
• Silver - No.10 Reserve Brut NV (91)
• Bronze - Rosé Brut 2022 (89)

2026's results included a notably broader geographic spread, with medal-winning vineyards in counties that rarely feature in English wine competitions. The estates below cover Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Wiltshire.

Gloucestershire

Woodchester Valley Vineyard

Woodchester is a strong choice if you want to combine wine tasting with a longer stay: three types of luxury accommodation are available year-round. The estate also runs monthly Vineyard Dog Walk events, though dogs aren't permitted on regular guided tours.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Orpheus Bacchus 2023 (90)
• Bronze - Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (87)
• Bronze - Reserve Cuvée Brut NV (86)

Kingsthorne

A Gloucestershire producer covering a wide range of styles, from sparkling to still red, including some less common varieties like Seyval Blanc and Solaris. Contact the estate directly for visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 5 bronze

• Bronze - Pinot Noir Early 2021 (89)
• Bronze - Solaris 2024 (87)
• Bronze - Seyval Blanc Brut 2017 (86)
• Bronze - Chardonnay 2023 (85)
• Bronze - Rosé 2023 (85)

Norfolk

Winbirri Vineyard

Winbirri is one of the furthest-north award-winning producers in England and one of the more established names in East Anglian wine. Their Vintage Reserve Brut took Silver in 2026, and they produce a Bacchus that performs consistently in competition. Check the website for current visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Vintage Reserve Brut 2018 (90)
• Bronze - The Grand 2015 (88)
• Bronze - Bacchus 2024 (86)

Suffolk

Burnt House Vineyard

A Suffolk estate with a broader range than many producers its size, covering sparkling, Pinot Noir and a medal-winning Pinot Meunier Rosé. Contact the vineyard directly for current visit and tasting availability.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Rosé Pinot Meunier 2024 (92)
• Bronze - Pinot Noir 2024 (89)
• Bronze - Brut 2022 (88)

Oxfordshire

Wyfold Vineyard

A Chilterns vineyard producing traditional method sparkling wine, with a Silver medal for their Rosé Brut in 2026. Contact the vineyard directly for current visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 1 bronze

• Silver - Rosé Brut 2020 (92)
• Bronze - Brut 2019 (89)

JoJo's Vineyard

A small Oxfordshire estate making zero-dosage sparkling wine. Contact the vineyard directly for visit and tasting options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Premiere Cuvée Brut Nature 2021 (88)

Herefordshire

Radlow Hundred

A Herefordshire producer making still red wine from Rondo - a variety better suited to the UK's cooler climate than more traditional red grapes. Contact the estate for current visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver

• Silver - Rondo 2023 (90)

1276 Wines

Based near Ledbury, 1276 Wines offers tours and tastings at their Herefordshire estate. A useful stop if you're exploring the Wye Valley wine trail.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Chardonnay 2024 (87)

Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Wiltshire

Williams Family Wines (Cambridgeshire)

A small Cambridgeshire producer whose Pinot Noir Précoce took Silver in 2026 - one of the more northerly red wine entries in the competition. Contact the estate directly for visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 silver | 2 bronze

• Silver - Pinot Noir Précoce 2024 (90)
• Bronze - Rosé 2025 (89)
• Bronze - Bacchus 2025 (85)

The Rutland Vineyard (Lincolnshire)

One of the most northerly vineyards in England with a medal at the 2026 IWSC. Contact the estate for current visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Second Nature 2024 (89)

Carvers Hill Wine Estate (Wiltshire)

A Wiltshire producer making still Pinot Noir Rosé. Contact the estate directly for current visit options.

IWSC 2026 medals: 1 bronze

• Bronze - Pinot Noir Rosé 2024 (86)